Per NEC 110.27(B), electrical equipment that can be exposed to damage must be protected by enclosures or guards.
For electrical vehicle charging stations and associated electrical equipment being installed in existing parking garages on elevated decks, my opinion is that bollard protection is an acceptable method.
However, IBC Section 1607.8.3 says vehicle "barriers" must resist a concentrated load of 6,000 lbs.
How can the NEC and IBC applicable code sections be applied together to determine best design practice?
Adding a bollard (or any type of guard for that matter) capable of resisting a horizontal force of 6,000 lbs in an existing parking garage will most likely affect the concrete deck integrity if actually hit with a force of 6,000 lbs. I.E. an anchored bollard/baseplate design, typical design seen in most garages.
My opinion is to install bollards with small, shallow anchors in front of the electrical equipment that acts as a deterrent and adds some protection to the electrical equipment when hit at slow speeds. These bollards would be designed to fail under a certain load condition as to not affect concrete deck integrity.
What are your thoughts?
For electrical vehicle charging stations and associated electrical equipment being installed in existing parking garages on elevated decks, my opinion is that bollard protection is an acceptable method.
However, IBC Section 1607.8.3 says vehicle "barriers" must resist a concentrated load of 6,000 lbs.
How can the NEC and IBC applicable code sections be applied together to determine best design practice?
Adding a bollard (or any type of guard for that matter) capable of resisting a horizontal force of 6,000 lbs in an existing parking garage will most likely affect the concrete deck integrity if actually hit with a force of 6,000 lbs. I.E. an anchored bollard/baseplate design, typical design seen in most garages.
My opinion is to install bollards with small, shallow anchors in front of the electrical equipment that acts as a deterrent and adds some protection to the electrical equipment when hit at slow speeds. These bollards would be designed to fail under a certain load condition as to not affect concrete deck integrity.
What are your thoughts?