Protecting service equipment from water

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tonype

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Install is only about 8 years old; however, waste and water lines run directly above. Are there "approved" ways of protecting the equipment from leaks?DSCF2395.jpg
 
I have never understood why it is required, but there is a required clear space of 6 feet above electrical equipment. Somewhere in 110. IIRC, the next paragraph exempts you from this requirement if you provide some kind of protection from condensation and leaks. Why it is Ok for pipes that are 6 feet above the equipment to leak but not 5.5 feet above it eludes me.

I would suggest that a drip tray under the piping is sufficient protection from leaks and condensation.

It would be also adequate IMO to provide equipment in drip proof enclosures. are those type 3R meter housings and switches?
 
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petersonra said:
I have never understood why it is required, but there is a required clear space of 6 feet above electrical equipment. Somewhere in 110. IIRC, the next paragraph exempts you from this requirement if you provide some kind of protection from condensation and leaks. Why it is Ok for pipes that are 6 feet above the equipment to leak but not 5.5 feet above it eludes me.

I would suggest that a drip tray under the piping is sufficient protection from leaks and condensation.

It would be also adequate IMO to provide equipment in drip proof enclosures. are those type 3R meter housings and switches?
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110.26 (E)
(E) Dedicated Equipment Space. All switchboards, panelboards, and motor control centers shall be located in dedicated spaces and protected from damage.
Exception: Control equipment that by its very nature or because of other rules of the Code must be adjacent to or within sight of its operating machinery shall be permitted in those locations.

(1) Indoor. Indoor installations shall comply with 110.26(E)(1)(a) through (E)(1)(d).
(a) Dedicated Electrical Space. The space equal to the width and depth of the equipment and extending from the floor to a height of 1.8 m (6 ft) above the equipment or to the structural ceiling, whichever is lower, shall be dedicated to the electrical installation. No piping, ducts, leak protection apparatus, or other equipment foreign to the electrical installation shall be located in this zone.
Exception: Suspended ceilings with removable panels shall be permitted within the 1.8-m (6-ft) zone.
(b) Foreign Systems. The area above the dedicated space required by 110.26(E)(1)(a) shall be permitted to contain foreign systems, provided protection is installed to avoid damage to the electrical equipment from condensation, leaks, or breaks in such foreign systems.
(c) Sprinkler Protection. Sprinkler protection shall be permitted for the dedicated space where the piping complies with this section.
(d) Suspended Ceilings. A dropped, suspended, or similar ceiling that does not add strength to the building structure shall not be considered a structural ceiling.
 
You can only use leak protection apparatus if the pipes are > 6' above the dedicated space. I can't remember when this dedicated space free of foreign system became code, but I think it was in the 2000's. Wonder if the install was compliant at the time, and now it is not? Sucks when they make a rule like that and you have all the equipment in an area you can no longer use -- makes service upgrades a major cost.

Don't see an exception for 3R equipment, but it seems like it would be a reasonable exception.

A structural ceiling between the pipes and equipment would most likely spread out the leak to a much wider area and who knows where it would eventually drip down.
 
suemarkp said:
You can only use leak protection apparatus if the pipes are > 6' above the dedicated space. I can't remember when this dedicated space free of foreign system became code, but I think it was in the 2000's. Wonder if the install was compliant at the time, and now it is not? Sucks when they make a rule like that and you have all the equipment in an area you can no longer use -- makes service upgrades a major cost.

Don't see an exception for 3R equipment, but it seems like it would be a reasonable exception.

A structural ceiling between the pipes and equipment would most likely spread out the leak to a much wider area and who knows where it would eventually drip down.
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I should have looked it up before I typed. I was thinking the leak protection stuff was an exception to the 6 foot rule but as written it is not.

It is one of those rules that makes little sense to me. It is often ignored IME. Or maybe it is something newer to the code.

Maybe someone could add a "structural ceiling" over the equipment. I have no idea what they mean by "structural". Probably something solid as opposed to a drop type ceiling.

If this is the worst thing you find wrong in an electrical installation, I would not be all that worried about it.

There might be room to lower the electrical gear so it has 6 foot to the pipes. It look like to me that the rule would only apply to the two pieces of equipment in the middle. The one on the outside to the left seems to be OK. Hard to tell about the one on the outside to the right.
 
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I don't see service disconnects on the dedicated space list.

110.26(E) Dedicated Equipment Space. All switchboards, pan-
elboards, and motor control centers shall be located in dedi-
cated spaces and protected from damage.
Click to expand...

Here's is some of the commentary from the NECH as to why it's required:

The dedicated electrical space, which extends the footprint
of the switchboard or panelboard from the floor to a height
of 6 ft above the height of the equipment or to the structural
ceiling (whichever is lower), is required to be clear of pip-
ing, ducts, leak protection apparatus, or equipment foreign
to the electrical installation. Plumbing, heating, ventilation,
and air-conditioning piping, ducts, and equipment must be
installed outside the width and depth zone. Busways, con-
duits, raceways, and cables are permitted to enter equipment
through this zone.
Foreign systems installed directly above the dedicated
space reserved for electrical equipment are required to
include protective equipment that ensures that occurrences
such as leaks, condensation, and even breaks do not damage
the electrical equipment located below.
Sprinkler protection is permitted for the dedicated
spaces as long as the sprinkler or other suppression system
piping complies with 110.26(E)(1)(c). A dropped, sus-
pended, or similar ceiling is permitted to be located directly
in the dedicated space, as are they are not considered struc-
tural ceilings. Building structural members are also permit-
ted in this space.
Click to expand...
 
A simple sleeve around the pipe that has ends beyond the plane of the walls of the equipment would be a suitable shield.

Cut a split in thinwalled PVC pipe or other plastic tubing and slip it over the pipes. May have to either extend into the masonry wall or butt it to the wall and seal it with caulking at the wall. Simple and easy fix. However the six feet above the equipment requirement may still get you.

For that one just build a ceiling between the piping and the equipment assuming you can still get a ceiling above required working space height.
 
hillbilly1 said:
The EMT set screw fittings and no sealing hub kills that though.:)
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Drip proofing against a improbable leak, does not require the same rated equipment as rain-tight. Simply sealing the normal fittings with RTV/caulk would be sufficient.
 
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