This project is in Chicago. I have been going back-and-forth with an engineer that I think has some odd interpretation of code, so I thought I'd drop this out here.
The site is a 4,000 square-foot retail building. Originally it was three equal-sized stores and was later converted to one big store. The architect's engineer shows me an (incorrect) electrical plan...let me finish the backstory I guess.
Each store had it's own service drop. #1 is single-phase 200A 120VAC. #2 is single-phase 100A 120VAC. #2 is 200A single-phase 120VAC and #4 is 200A three-phase 240VAC.
So, four services, four meters, one electric bill. All panels look to code.
When he did his plan, he assumed only one electrical service because (I think) he thought all service was through one 200A panel.
Anyway, he is telling the architect that we need to combine all four services to one. I know he has the engineer's stamp, but this isn't new construction, it's a retail remodel and they're not adding any electrical load, or really changing the electrical at all.
Obviously, new construction needs a single service, but does simply the fact that an existing business has multiple services that apparently passed review and inspection back in the day need to combine them? Just because?
I've never seen this before, but where does grandfathering kick in? Is the engineer right, that simply having four services means immediate rectification, or can we just let it be? Right now it's got 700A of service and he is proposing a 400A main panel.
I have a call in to the inspectors, but no call back yet. I'm really curious about this before I talk to the inspector.
Has anyone had this issue before? I asked the owner and sure enough, his electric bill has four meters on it.
The site is a 4,000 square-foot retail building. Originally it was three equal-sized stores and was later converted to one big store. The architect's engineer shows me an (incorrect) electrical plan...let me finish the backstory I guess.
Each store had it's own service drop. #1 is single-phase 200A 120VAC. #2 is single-phase 100A 120VAC. #2 is 200A single-phase 120VAC and #4 is 200A three-phase 240VAC.
So, four services, four meters, one electric bill. All panels look to code.
When he did his plan, he assumed only one electrical service because (I think) he thought all service was through one 200A panel.
Anyway, he is telling the architect that we need to combine all four services to one. I know he has the engineer's stamp, but this isn't new construction, it's a retail remodel and they're not adding any electrical load, or really changing the electrical at all.
Obviously, new construction needs a single service, but does simply the fact that an existing business has multiple services that apparently passed review and inspection back in the day need to combine them? Just because?
I've never seen this before, but where does grandfathering kick in? Is the engineer right, that simply having four services means immediate rectification, or can we just let it be? Right now it's got 700A of service and he is proposing a 400A main panel.
I have a call in to the inspectors, but no call back yet. I'm really curious about this before I talk to the inspector.
Has anyone had this issue before? I asked the owner and sure enough, his electric bill has four meters on it.