Locating electrical

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

SAP

Senior Member
Location
Fresno Ca
Does anybody know if there is a special tool that can locate live electrical wiring under a roof. We have this mall we are putting over 4000 solar mods on this roof . My boss is flipping out cause the roofers had to replace a section of the roof and the hit 4 electrical lines, I doubt we would hit any electrical lines, but he wants me to go out there tomorrow and see how we can locate any electrical lines were the array is gonna be. I'm not sure how the roofers hit the the lines. I've never used one of those underground utility finders that's the only thing I can think of. If there is anything else out there that anybody can recommend I would appreciate it thanks
 
SAP said:
Does anybody know if there is a special tool that can locate live electrical wiring under a roof. We have this mall we are putting over 4000 solar mods on this roof . My boss is flipping out cause the roofers had to replace a section of the roof and the hit 4 electrical lines, I doubt we would hit any electrical lines, but he wants me to go out there tomorrow and see how we can locate any electrical lines were the array is gonna be. I'm not sure how the roofers hit the the lines. I've never used one of those underground utility finders that's the only thing I can think of. If there is anything else out there that anybody can recommend I would appreciate it thanks
Click to expand...
Go rent a locator from rental company. Tell them what your trying to do, they might have something. Those things are expensive. Only reason I got one is because a guy died! And the family had a come and hall it away offer.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk
 
Difficulty factor goes way up if the lines are in metal raceway and under metal roof decking.

Chances are the lines that were hit were run inside the corrugations of the roof decking.

Recent codes don't allow running lines there anymore as well as within 1.5 inches of the lowest portion of the decking (don't remember which code first prohibited this may have been 2008 or 2011) but before that change it was common to run lines inside the corrugations, was fast and easy, but fasteners for the roof insulation or other coverings often would be driven right into EMT. You still can run RMC or IMC in this space though. This requirement is in 300.4(E)
 
SAP said:
he wants me to go out there tomorrow and see how we can locate any electrical lines were the array is gonna be.
Click to expand...

kwired said:
Difficulty factor goes way up if the lines are in metal raceway and under metal roof decking.

Chances are the lines that were hit were run inside the corrugations of the roof decking.
Click to expand...


I'm thinking the best way may be a visual from inside the mall. I don't know if they would be allowed to go inside each tenant space but some areas are normally open. If they did run inside the roof decking at least that would give a good idea how the roofer hit the lines or conduits.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top