Main service disconnect

[Greg1707]

I am confused at times regarding the main service disconnect. 230.70 States that a means shall be provided to disconnect all conductors in a building or other structure from the service entrance conductors.

I have recently been called to work in a town house condo community. The panel in the house has no main shut off. I checked outside and all of the meters are lined up in the alley inside of metal boxes with windows provided to read the meter. The boxes are sealed and there is no shutoff.

Does an installation of this type meet the requirement of article 230.70? I needed to do a lot of work in the panel and did not want to work on it while it was hot.

 

[cleveland]

This does not sound correct. Could there be a breaker handle accessible at the meter bank? It would not have to be very large and might be under a cover just next to or beneath the meter.

 

[barbeer]

I have witnessed such installs before- here- our existing building code prevents us from being able to make an upgrade necessary unless they work on a certain % of system among other criteria.