More than 6 mains

[Brent G. Wall]

Was there ever an N.E.C. Code Cycle 1981 to 2014 that a 800 amp 1phase 120/240 volt electrical service for a multi family (more than SIX mains) apartment building, all meters and mains grouped at a single location, and only one point of attachment from the utility allowed to not have a single main breaker disconnect ahead of the apartment mains?Our local authority having jurisdiction says no.. The Service and its related components are in excellent condition and would still be considered a modern installation.. My partners and I are in agreement that it is probably 20+ years old... The building itself was built in 1910. i.e. The current electrical Service, panels, and branch circuits in the units have obviously been upgraded..But there is no single main at the service.. Utility cables terminate in to a I.T.E. 1000 amp rated can and terminals.. The apartments are then buss connected by the factory meter stacks each meter with its own breaker... No records of permits can be found from City or Utility....Can send pictures if anyone has some thoughts or information on the Service installation described above.Thank you.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

6 handle rule is allow with one more for the following

There shall be not more than
six sets of disconnects per service grouped in any one location.
For the purpose of this section, disconnecting means
installed as part of listed equipment and used solely for the
following shall not be considered a service disconnecting
means:
(1) Power monitoring equipment
(2) Surge-protective device(s)
(3) Control circuit of the ground-fault protection system
(4) Power-operable service disconnecting means


(B) Additional Service Disconnecting Means. The one or
more additional service disconnecting means for fire
pumps, emergency systems, legally required standby, or optional
standby services permitted by 230.2 shall be installed
remote from the one to six service disconnecting means for
normal service to minimize the possibility of simultaneous
interruption of supply.

 

[kwired]

There is another similar discussion going on in another thread, I will try to find that and post a link to that thread.

I know in that one part of the discussion is about allowing more then one service on a building for multiple occupancy applications, but in that one there is also metering/disconnects grouped at one location, and it is IMO that if you want separate service to each occupancy it is allowed but must have each service run to each occupancy and not to a central location when doing so. This is because when buildings are arranged for multiple occupancy they usually have effective enough firewall/separation requirements that you can essentially consider them separate buildings from a potential fire spread perspective.


Add link to other thread http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=177626