Residential bldg with 8 tenants: Meter bank with (8) meters + (8) 100A disconnects. Do I need to provide one main service disc. for the entire bldg

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Volt-Amps

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Indianapolis
Chicago Electrical Code or NEC 2017:
Residential building with 8 tenants: Meter bank has (8) meters + (8) 100A breaker, each breaker and meter serve 1 of the 8 dwelling units. Do I need to provide one main service disc. for the entire building? If required, which code section references this requirements?
I'm not sure the 6 disconnect rule apply here because I've seen this done all over with no main provided for the building.

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I totally agree with the recommendation, ModbusMan. I will definitely recommend that they add, but need to be able to justify it code wise, in case the typical question pops up: is it required by code?
 
Volt-Amps said:
I will definitely recommend that they add, but need to be able to justify it code wise, in case the typical question pops up: is it required by code?
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Volt-Amps: I really want to put a main DC here... help a brother out?
AHJ: Sure, no sweat... I'll make it a pocket reg for ya.

So I can't say whether or not your inspectors are quite that accommodating, but maybe ten years back when we wanted to add main output breakers to a couple of generators, we found that the space between the generator panel and the enclosure was less than 36". Not a problem at the time they were installed since there was no breaker, but obviously not compliant if there were one. We talked it over with our inspector, and he was like "I'm going to specifically write up as part of your permit submission package that I approve the exception... being three inches short on clearance is a lot better than having no breaker at all."
 
Volt-Amps said:
Chicago Electrical Code or NEC 2017:
Residential building with 8 tenants: Meter bank has (8) meters + (8) 100A breaker, each breaker and meter serve 1 of the 8 dwelling units. Do I need to provide one main service disc. for the entire building? If required, which code section references this requirements?
I'm not sure the 6 disconnect rule apply here because I've seen this done all over with no main provided for the building.

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Yes, based on the Chicago Electrical Code you would have to install a main service disconnect ahead of the meter stacks.
 
Thank you all for your thoughts and contribution. I would definitely add a main ahead of the tenant meters and breakers, but when an owner says "I don't want to add unless it's code required", I need to be able to justify and refer to a specific code section. It still seems to me a grey area because I've seen multifamily buildings with more than 6 meters and no main service disconnect for the entire service.
 
Volt-Amps said:
Thank you all for your thoughts and contribution. I would definitely add a main ahead of the tenant meters and breakers, but when an owner says "I don't want to add unless it's code required", I need to be able to justify and refer to a specific code section. It still seems to me a grey area because I've seen multifamily buildings with more than 6 meters and no main service disconnect for the entire service.
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You will note 230.72 references 230.40 Exceptions.
One of those exceptions allows a set of service conductors to each occupancy however, in your case, your service disconnects are grouped at the meters so the "six max" rule applies to that location,
It is, admittedly, somewhat of a Code conundrum
 
augie47 said:
You will note 230.72 references 230.40 Exceptions.
One of those exceptions allows a set of service conductors to each occupancy however, in your case, your service disconnects are grouped at the meters so the "six max" rule applies to that location,
It is, admittedly, somewhat of a Code conundrum
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It is. The term grouped is not defined. How far to I have to move 4 of the disconnects so that they are not grouped with the other 4? 5', 10', 50, out of sight?
 
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