point of attachment

[GerryB]

In a recent class the instructor said for the service the point of attachment had to be below the weather head. It is shown that way in the handbook pictures but 230.26 just says shall not be less than 10 feet above grade. I sometimes put it in the facia board where I know it is stronger and have never failed because it was above the weather head. Was he correct?

 

[retirede]

In a recent class the instructor said for the service the point of attachment had to be below the weather head. It is shown that way in the handbook pictures but 230.26 just says shall not be less than 10 feet above grade. I sometimes put it in the facia board where I know it is stronger and have never failed because it was above the weather head. Was he correct?

I think he’s wrong. There needs to be a drip loop, though.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

See 230.54(C).

 

[GerryB]

See 230.54(C).

OK so he is correct. Good to know. I never had it called and we always have a drip loop. On most service changes the point of attachment is existing. I could see it being called on a new install.

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

You are more likely to have water issues with the service head below the point of attachment.

 

[infinity]

SE cable or raceway? Prior to the 2020 NEC raceway weatherheads did not need to be above the POA.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

SE cable or raceway? Prior to the 2020 NEC raceway weatherheads did not need to be above the POA.

The language in 230.54 is identical for the 2020 code and the 2011 code.

 

[infinity]

The language in 230.54 is identical for the 2020 code and the 2011 code.

Okay I posted without looking because I don't have the 2020 with me. At one of my code update classes they said something about raceways being added to the above the point of attachment requirement like that of SE cable.

 

[infinity]

The language in 230.54 is identical for the 2020 code and the 2011 code.

Actually the 2011 and the 2020 are slightly different. The change that included service raceways came in the 2017 NEC not the 2020 as I had previously mentioned. The words on raceways were added because prior to the 2017 only SE cable had the above the POA requirement not raceways.

2011 NEC:
230.54(C) Service Heads and Goosenecks Above Service-Drop or Overhead Service Attachment. Service heads and goosenecks in service-entrance cables shall be located above the point of attachment of the service-drop or overhead service conductors to the building or other structure.

2017 NEC:
230.54(C) Service Heads and Goosenecks Above Service-Drop or Overhead Service Attachment. Service heads on raceways or service-entrance cables and goosenecks in service-entrance cables shall be located above the point of attachment of the service-drop or overhead service conductors to the building or other structure.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Actually the 2011 and the 2020 are slightly different. The change that included service raceways came in the 2017 NEC not the 2020 as I had previously mentioned. The words on raceways were added because prior to the 2017 only SE cable had the above the POA requirement not raceways.

I guess they are not identical in wording but the requirement has not actually changed. The rule in 2011 applies to all service heads and goosenecks, and 230.54(A) requires a service raceway to have a service head.