PVC on the side of a sidewalk

[hillbilly1]

Hoping this works.
View attachment 2564476

I would definitely fail that. With Concrete cover? Maybe if it was a little deeper.

 

[LarryFine]

I would definitely fail that. With Concrete cover? Maybe if it was a little deeper.

What if it was under the edge of the concrete the entire way?

 

[hillbilly1]

What if it was under the edge of the concrete the entire way?

Probably ok, it would afford protection like under a building slab. 2” of concrete is supposedly equal to one foot of dirt, so if he had dug down deeper, and poured concrete, I would have been ok with it. (Inspector’s discretion)

 

[kwired]

Probably ok, it would afford protection like under a building slab. 2” of concrete is supposedly equal to one foot of dirt, so if he had dug down deeper, and poured concrete, I would have been ok with it. (Inspector’s discretion)

2" concrete = 1 foot of dirt?
seems to me 2" concrete is just plain and simple enough of a shield to protect it from damage - from hand tools or smaller powered tools. Some larger mechanical excavation equipment still has no problem damaging it though, but also has no problem when buried at T300.5 depths with no concrete as well.

 

[hillbilly1]

2" concrete = 1 foot of dirt?
seems to me 2" concrete is just plain and simple enough of a shield to protect it from damage - from hand tools or smaller powered tools. Some larger mechanical excavation equipment still has no problem damaging it though, but also has no problem when buried at T300.5 depths with no concrete as well.

I would agree, but that seems to be the rule of thumb.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

It also appears that scheduling the job did not work out. That conduit could have just been installed in the concrete and avoid all this mess.

 

[LarryFine]

2” of concrete is supposedly equal to one foot of dirt ...

It's not an equivalent, it's just an alternative. You can't combine 1" of concrete and 6" of dirt.

 

[hillbilly1]

It's not an equivalent, it's just an alternative. You can't combine 1" of concrete and 6" of dirt.

Correct. If the circuit is under 20 amps and 150 volts, gfci protected, the depth can be reduced to 6”. 12” under other conditions.
NEC 300.5

 

[kwired]

Correct. If the circuit is under 20 amps and 150 volts, gfci protected, the depth can be reduced to 6”. 12” under other conditions.
NEC 300.5

so a GFCI is also equivalent to 12 inches of dirt then

 

[Kevin Monroe]

What if it was under the edge of the concrete the entire way?

If the EC went under the edge of the sidewalk I would be OK with it.

 

[hillbilly1]

so a GFCI is also equivalent to 12 inches of dirt then

LOL! That’s what 300.5 says!

 

[Kevin Monroe]

Having worked in South Fl the argument that it's to hard to dig is hogwash.

Only place I haven't been able to dig was the Bahamas, some places had granite deposits, all we got was dust when the backhoe scratched it.

 

[hillbilly1]

The Dominican Republic is pretty rocky, I had to dig in some landscape lights for the palm trees in the back yard. Only a couple of inches of soil. They must have blasted to build the pool.

 

[kwired]

The Dominican Republic is pretty rocky, I had to dig in some landscape lights for the palm trees in the back yard. Only a couple of inches of soil. They must have blasted to build the pool.

Just blast out the pool possibly apply a seal coating and pool is done? Other than piping, equipotential bonding and such, which sounds like a challenge as well.

 

[LarryFine]

so a GFCI is also equivalent to 12 inches of dirt then

 

[LarryFine]

The Dominican Republic is pretty rocky, I had to dig in some landscape lights for the palm trees in the back yard. Only a couple of inches of soil. They must have blasted to build the pool.

Think of the material savings!

 

[letgomywago]

so a GFCI is also equivalent to 12 inches of dirt then

Only at dwelling units

 

[jusme123]

What happens to that pvc if someone uses a bladed edger?

 

[macmikeman]

I grew up in South Florida. What rock? There is 3 things your shovel will hit. Sand and water and tree roots.


Ok, Ok , there is some rock quarries , few and far between though..........

 

[CharlieFer]

You are correct in failing the job. Why does he think he can get by with 4" trench when it should be 18" to the pipe. If he didn't want to dig then he should have used rigid or pvc coated rigid.

Is RMC permitted to simply be ran on surface like grass without cover? I'm encountering such a situation currently