Team-MEI
Inactive, Email Never Verified
- Location
- Vancouver, WA
NEC 100 "Service Point". NEC 100 (2005 ed.); Part 1 General: ?Service Point. The point of connection between the facilities of the serving utility and the premises wiring.?
Traditionally, of course this location means where the client taps into the service transformer's secondary-side; i.e. downstream of primary distribution voltage. However, in some cases, the client is a large campus of facility buildings, such as a college; where they ?own? the primary loop infrastructure including subsequent transformers all the way back to ?primary? utility metering point(s).
The state L&I office has halted work on a particular project by not approving the electrical plans due to this rare situation. The project in question is a remodel & building upgrade which actually reduces overall loads (ironically funny when you think about it); notwithstanding the fact of load reduction, the L&I won?t approve the plans because of (2) reasons, (1) we don?t show the ?service point? correctly and (2) the NEC?s demand loads (a codified method of allowable derating ?connected? loads per the building type in question) are deemed ?too high? for the transformer (the state did not state what part of what code they use to determine allowable transformer loads-we plan to ask for a clarification). Note that nominal transformer & loop wiring sizing (typically performed by a utility) uses a different code than the NEC; the NESC, which has even further allowable derating demand reductions, termed ?diversity? which, in this case, is deemed not allowed per the state L&I office?s interpretation, so we can only use the NEC?s demand factor.
In other words, by simple change of ownership of the primary loop; a different set of code now applies to these aspects within an existing situation per the state L&I office?s interpretation which has resulted in a formerly acceptable sizing & loading parameter situation (formerly sized by the utility) but after an ownership change, has somehow became unacceptable.
We are resolving this dilemma by showing the ?service? point back at the primary meter location and by showing a recent electrical loop load study, which shows actual loads in KVA peak into the respective buildings, including the building in question, and per NEC, multiplying this amount by 125%; these measured KVA load amounts are well under the transformer?s ratings, so this may be all that is necessary for the particular project at hand.
But the entire situation brings up the question; is the true nature, intent or ?spirit? of the NEC 100 "Service Point" simply to show a point between service (transformer) and premises wiring or not? What is your take on the matter?
Traditionally, of course this location means where the client taps into the service transformer's secondary-side; i.e. downstream of primary distribution voltage. However, in some cases, the client is a large campus of facility buildings, such as a college; where they ?own? the primary loop infrastructure including subsequent transformers all the way back to ?primary? utility metering point(s).
The state L&I office has halted work on a particular project by not approving the electrical plans due to this rare situation. The project in question is a remodel & building upgrade which actually reduces overall loads (ironically funny when you think about it); notwithstanding the fact of load reduction, the L&I won?t approve the plans because of (2) reasons, (1) we don?t show the ?service point? correctly and (2) the NEC?s demand loads (a codified method of allowable derating ?connected? loads per the building type in question) are deemed ?too high? for the transformer (the state did not state what part of what code they use to determine allowable transformer loads-we plan to ask for a clarification). Note that nominal transformer & loop wiring sizing (typically performed by a utility) uses a different code than the NEC; the NESC, which has even further allowable derating demand reductions, termed ?diversity? which, in this case, is deemed not allowed per the state L&I office?s interpretation, so we can only use the NEC?s demand factor.
In other words, by simple change of ownership of the primary loop; a different set of code now applies to these aspects within an existing situation per the state L&I office?s interpretation which has resulted in a formerly acceptable sizing & loading parameter situation (formerly sized by the utility) but after an ownership change, has somehow became unacceptable.
We are resolving this dilemma by showing the ?service? point back at the primary meter location and by showing a recent electrical loop load study, which shows actual loads in KVA peak into the respective buildings, including the building in question, and per NEC, multiplying this amount by 125%; these measured KVA load amounts are well under the transformer?s ratings, so this may be all that is necessary for the particular project at hand.
But the entire situation brings up the question; is the true nature, intent or ?spirit? of the NEC 100 "Service Point" simply to show a point between service (transformer) and premises wiring or not? What is your take on the matter?
