Location of main disconnect ?

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medic18

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Hello all. I am in the process of selling my home and the buyers home inspector has written up the fact that there is no main disconnect in my homes electric box. My main disconnect is in my crawl space. My electric meter is outside the home and the main disconnect in the crawl is probably within 5 feet of the meter. I think this is a requirement. So I'm looking to find out if this scenario is code compliant or if I'll have to have another disconnect added.

Thanks in advance for any info. on this.

BTW I live in McHenry county, IL if that matters.
 
Re: Location of main disconnect ?

If the panel with out the main disconnect is in the same building as the service disconnect than your installation is code compliant. The panel does not require a main. The main disconnect in the crawl space may be another issue but regarding your question the panelboard does not require a main. This would be for jurisdictions that follow the NEC. You state may or may not have amendments which would require the second disconnecting means at the panelboard. Hope this helps.


Trevor
 
Re: Location of main disconnect ?

To clarify...The electric panel is in my kitchen on an inside wall and the service disconnect is under the house in the crawl space.
 
Re: Location of main disconnect ?

Medic18, is this a crawl in crawl space or a walk in crawl space ( how much head room ). How long has this service been in the house, it may be grand fathered in.
 
Re: Location of main disconnect ?

Growler is probably right about the grand fathering. But it sounds as if the issue here is a main in the panel in the kitchen. One is not required, given that there is a main ahead of the panel in the crawlspace.
 
Re: Location of main disconnect ?

The house is 10 years old. It is a dirt crawl and the only access is through a window well type opening you have to lower yourself through and once in the crawl there is enough room to duck walk around. Thanks guys for the answers.

Matt
 
Re: Location of main disconnect ?

I would think that 230.70 (A)(1) could be the violation. Readily Accessible Location. The service disconnecting means "shall" be installed at a readily accessible location either outside of the building or structure or inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors. Having said that and the house only being 10 years old, it would have been inspected to obtain a CO before anyone could move in so they may have obtained special permission to put the disconnect where it is. ( The inspector say's OK ). I can't believe they would have put the disconnect in such a location without a good reason because it's always harder to work in a crawl space. I would check with the building Dept. in area and talk to the head electrical inspector. If he say's it's good, the home inspectors report wont mean a thing. If this is considered a violation then the original EC can be forced to move the disconnect. Before doing anything check with the Building Dept. ( local AHJ ), they may know something that we don't it may be Readily Accessible.
 
Re: Location of main disconnect ?

Was this install permited and inspected ? The fault i see here is the working clearance in front of the panel.It needs to be 30 inches wide 36 inches deep and 6'6" high.Do you have this ?

[ January 29, 2006, 10:13 AM: Message edited by: jimwalker ]
 
Re: Location of main disconnect ?

Originally posted by growler:
I would think that 230.70 (A)(1) could be the violation.
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I agree, it does not sound like the service disconnect is readily accessible.

It is possible they received 'special permission' to satisfy the NEC requirements.

Originally posted by growler:
I would check with the building Dept. in area and talk to the head electrical inspector. If he say's it's good, the home inspectors report wont mean a thing.
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Here is where we disagree, the installation can meet code and the home inspector can still note it in their report as a safety concern.

The same as they can point out that GFCIs are missing on the counter tops even though the NEC is not retroactive.

A home inspector is not (normally) a code inspector.

You don't have to fix anything, it is between the buyer and the seller to either work out a satisfactory solution or not.
 
Re: Location of main disconnect ?

Originally posted by jimwalker:
A couple simple words on the contract to sell your house solves everything.AS IS
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Yes I agree that can work fine....if you are not in a hurry to sell or there is a line of buyers or if you do not care about dropping your price.

It is definitely up to the seller to decide if they want to fix the item. :)

It is just another negotiating point. :)
 
Re: Location of main disconnect ?

Iwire, I agree that the home inspector can list what ever he wants to as a safety concern. ( I don't like the idea of a disconnect in the crawl space ). But the original question was, is this scenario code compliant. I don't feel that the home inspector gets to make that call ( not qualified, not the inspectors I know ). I think that if special permission was given to locate the disconnect in this area it could legally be left out of the disclosure ( it's code compliant ). The problem would still stay in this home inspectors report but the next one to inspect the house may not even list it. If it's compliant there would be no reason to list it on the disclosure statement. I doubt if this was brought up when Meddic18 bought the house.
 
Re: Location of main disconnect ?

I am not sure what your getting at.

An HI usually works for the buyer the HI can (and should) list anything out of the ordinary code compliant or not.

It then becomes an issue that the buyer can ignore or the buyer and seller can try to come up with a mutually agreeable solution.

If you hired a Home inspector would you want all their observations or only certain observations?
 
Re: Location of main disconnect ?

For what they charge i would want any and all findings.But also broke down to code violation or just a point of concern.Buyer might otherwise think they all are violations.Something to think about is that the buyer is wanting your house just as bad as you want to sell it.I am off to visit the owner of property next door to me.It is in very rough shape and about to be condemed.It would be of no value to hire a HI to render his opinion.And i am sure it will not change the price.Where i live property never stays long on the market unless over priced.
 
Re: Location of main disconnect ?

Jim a couple of things.

1) In many areas and many HI contracts it prohibits citing code violations as they are not code inspectors.

2)Many times the mortgage company requires a Home Inspection regardless of the buyers own confidence or abilities no matter what the condition of the property.

I know you have some sort of hair across your rear about HIs but like death and taxes they are not going anywhere.

This is not aimed at you personally but in FL what qualifications does someone need to call themselves an electrician and charge people to install electric work?
 
Re: Location of main disconnect ?

I find it remarkable a house built ten years ago would have passed inspection with the main disconnect in this position? :confused:
 
Re: Location of main disconnect ?

The problem with this HI is he said that the panel without a main was a violation when it isn't. The OP said nothing about him noting the real potential violation, the disconnect in the crawlspace.
 
Re: Location of main disconnect ?

Originally posted by infinity:
The problem with this HI is he said that the panel without a main was a violation when it isn't. The OP said nothing about him noting the real potential violation, the disconnect in the crawlspace.
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And you're suprised why? :roll:
 
Re: Location of main disconnect ?

Originally posted by medic18: My main disconnect is in my crawl space.
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Just out of curiosity, and not intending any offense, but may I be permitted to ask how you know this? Is that just what the Home Inspector said, or do you have it from another, more reliable source? Have you seen it yourself, and if so did it have a label? Also, if you did see it, would you be able to distinguish a "main service disconnect" from any other electrical device?

All I am driving at is that you might be mistaken. Sometimes, and I suppose it is not at all uncommon, the main service disconnect is next to the meter. The average homeowner might not recognize it for what it is.
 
Re: Location of main disconnect ?

I have to go with Charlie on this one. In 35 years in this business, I have NEVER seen a main disconnect in a crawl space. Heck, most electricians I know have no desire to get into the crawl with all of the spiders & such. :eek:
 
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