PVC sch 40 lying on ground

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xguard

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Baton Rouge, LA
My gut says you shouldn't route conduit directly on the ground. But aside from that I'm thinking it's okay to be directly on the ground, but the NEC requires it to be secured, and that sch 40 is questionable in this case.

Thoughts?
 

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IMO, the way the code reads, you either have to bury it or secure it if above ground. Then you get into "subject to physical damage" thing which would require schedule 80.
 
xguard said:
My gut says you shouldn't route conduit directly on the ground. But aside from that I'm thinking it's okay to be directly on the ground, but the NEC requires it to be secured, and that sch 40 is questionable in this case.

Thoughts?
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Drop a support from what ever is holding all those panels up. You will definitely get (ground) earth settlement and loose suppor.

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xguard said:
My gut says you shouldn't route conduit directly on the ground. But aside from that I'm thinking it's okay to be directly on the ground, but the NEC requires it to be secured, and that sch 40 is questionable in this case.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Are those NEMA-1 panels with a "custom built rain guard" top? Interesting combination of equipment.
 
Whether that install is subject to physical damage is subject to interpretation. It may be well protected from things that are most likely to be present that are likely to cause damage, but nothing is ever completely protected either.

It does need some securing and not just lay on the ground though. Drive a stake into the ground and put a strap on it and even if some don't like that, really is still a securing method. Whether the stake or the strap is durable enough for the conditions is a valid concern though.
 
It seems to me that if it's actually laying on the ground it is well supported. I don't think that makes it secured though. But not be all that hard to secure it with some rebar Stakes. I don't see how you can consider it subject to damage where it's physically located but I suppose someone could run into it with a truck or something so maybe a few bolsters would solve the problem. The other thing you could do is just pile some dirt up around it. I don't think you'd even have to bury it just enough to keep it from moving laterally.
 
petersonra said:
The other thing you could do is just pile some dirt up around it. I don't think you'd even have to bury it just enough to keep it from moving laterally.
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As soon as you pile a little dirt around it, it's not sitting above the ground anymore. Now the cover requirements kick in and you have to bury it 18".

There's grass there. A mower could hit that pipe or fling a rock at it. It needs to be schedule 80.
 
Coppersmith said:
As soon as you pile a little dirt around it, it's not sitting above the ground anymore. Now the cover requirements kick in and you have to bury it 18".

There's grass there. A mower could hit that pipe or fling a rock at it. It needs to be schedule 80.
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How do you figure it's underground if it's not buried?

If it bothers you build a box around it and pour a couple inches of concrete over it. Maybe put a galvanized sheet metal shroud around the stuff that you can't protect with concrete easily.
 
petersonra said:
How do you figure it's underground if it's not buried?

If it bothers you build a box around it and pour a couple inches of concrete over it. Maybe put a galvanized sheet metal shroud around the stuff that you can't protect with concrete easily.
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It doesn't bother me in the least. But I think it would bother an inspector who saw a partially buried pipe. My interpretation of the code is if it's buried at all, it needs to be at the correct depth.
 
Coppersmith said:
It doesn't bother me in the least. But I think it would bother an inspector who saw a partially buried pipe. My interpretation of the code is if it's buried at all, it needs to be at the correct depth.
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The code does not anywhere say that though in fact it strongly implies that it's not really buried unless all of the pipe is undercover since the cover requirements go to the top of the pipe not the bottom.
 
Stake down some unistrut and clamp the conduit to it. Or better, secure the unistrut to a concrete base first and then clamp on the conduit. You see, here is how it works, where a conduit is secured by any other means it is subconsciously regarded as inferior by most, whereas , if it is held by unistrut , suddenly it is a fine and proper install, no matter how cheesy it is done.

If pvc run along the top of ground is subject to physical damage (good possibility) then rooftop pvc runs should be subject to the exact same.
But roof top will get a pass, because that is how the mind works.
 
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