SE Cable Embedded in Concrete

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goldstar

goldstar

Senior Member
Location
New Jersey
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
About 15 years ago I helped an EC buddy of mine upgrade a service. I don't remember the particulars of the job but he called me today and said the house was being sold and that the HI cited the fact the the SE cable inside the house between the meter and the breaker panel was encased in concrete and that it was a violation. From what I remember there was about 3' of SE cable that entered into the house that had to be protected and that was the shortest distance possible. The service obviously passed inspection at the time of installation so I'm not able to come up with a reason that it should be cited other than the possibility of corrosion due to the chemical properties in the concrete coming in contact with the sheathing. Could there possibly be a violation ? Thanks.
 
infinity said:
Is this in poured concrete or is the hole just patched with masonry?
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From the conversation I had with my buddy we built a form around the cable, mixed up the cement and filled it in. Frankly, I don't remember doing that but he seems to have a vivid memory.
 
goldstar said:
From the conversation I had with my buddy we built a form around the cable, mixed up the cement and filled it in. Frankly, I don't remember doing that but he seems to have a vivid memory.
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If the cover is more than 2" you should be good.
 
If this is installed as a branch circuit or feeder in the interior then I agree with the inspector. If it's for SEC's then it would need to comply with Article 230.

338.10(B)(4) Installation Methods for Branch Circuits and Feeders.
(a) Interior Installations. In addition to the provisions of
this article, Type SE service-entrance cable used for interior
wiring shall comply with the installation requirements of Part
II of Article 334, excluding 334.80.
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II. Installation
334.12 Uses Not Permitted.
(A) Types NM, NMC, and NMS. Types NM, NMC, and
NMS cables shall not be permitted as follows:
(1) In any dwelling or structure not specifically permitted
in 334.10(1), (2), (3), and (5)
(2) Exposed in dropped or suspended ceilings in other
than one- and two-family and multifamily dwellings
(3) As service-entrance cable
(4) In commercial garages having hazardous (classified)
locations as defined in 511.3
(5) In theaters and similar locations, except where permit-
ted in 518.4(B)
(6) In motion picture studios
(7) In storage battery rooms
(8) In hoistways or on elevators or escalators
(9) Embedded in poured cement, concrete, or aggregate
(10) In hazardous (classified) locations, except where spe-
cifically permitted by other articles in this Code.
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But for service entrance conductors then it would need to comply with 230.6.

338.10 Uses Permitted.
(A) Service-Entrance Conductors. Service-entrance cable
shall be permitted to be used as service-entrance conductors
and shall be installed in accordance with 230.6, 230.7, and
Parts II, III, and IV of Article 230.
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230.6 Conductors Considered Outside the Building.
Conductors shall be considered outside of a building or
other structure under any of the following conditions:
(1) Where installed under not less than 50 mm (2 in.) of
concrete beneath a building or other structure
(2) Where installed within a building or other structure in a
raceway that is encased in concrete or brick not less
than 50 mm (2 in.) thick
(3) Where installed in any vault that meets the construction
requirements of Article 450, Part III
(4) Where installed in conduit and under not less than
450 mm (18 in.) of earth beneath a building or other
structure
(5) Where installed within rigid metal conduit (Type
RMC) or intermediate metal conduit (Type IMC) used
to accommodate the clearance requirements in 230.24
and routed directly through an eave but not a wall of a
building.
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infinity said:
If this is installed as a branch circuit or feeder in the interior then I agree with the inspector. If it's for SEC's then it would need to comply with Article 230.






But for service entrance conductors then it would need to comply with 230.6.
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Did you pass entirely over the part where it's 3' of SE between the meter and the panel? You could have gone right to 230.6(1) and saved yourself the trouble.:cool:
 
infinity said:
What did I miss?
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At the head of your post you talk about branch circuits and feeder. By inspection, from the OP's post, these don't apply.

"From what I remember there was about 3' of SE cable that entered into the house..."

and further:

"between the meter and the breaker panel..."

Go directly to 230.6(1), do not pass 334.12 and 338.10, do not collect $200.
 
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