Seal-off/coupling dispute

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This application is in a C1D2 area going to a non-classified area. My understanding of art. 500 is that there can be no fittings between the boundary (block wall) and the seal-off. I have a contractor that states that you are able to install a coupling between the boundary and the seal-off. Please help us solve this dispute. References would be helpful. Thanks.
 
Thanks for your response Cold Fusion.

Just to clarify, do you see any justification for being able to install a coupling?
 
Nope. The code is clear - and it has been this way for some time.

Personal Opinion:
For a new installation, having a coupling between the seal and the boundary because the installer was not familiar with code and now it costs money and is inconvenient to change is not justification to leave the coupling.

For an existing, old installation that was recently discovered, I'd put it on the list of things to fix when we got to it - or were doing something related in the area.

cf
 
Unless there are contradictory responses from others, I usually don't comment when someone gives a solid answer like Cold Fusion did. In this case, the only thing I would add is that, if a coupling were permitted, then a seal wasn't needed in the first place. See the various Exceptions for boundary seals in 501.15(B)(2).

There is one case though where a seal might be beneficial, but not required. See 501.15(B)(2) Ex No 3. I noticed the OP mentioned the boundary was a block wall. I am assuming the unclassified side of the wall is the interior of a room. If the room was unclassified by virtue of pressurization, then a seal may be useful to help maintain the pressure. In that case, a coupling between the seal and boundary would be acceptable, but only because the seal wasn't required in the first place. This is especially true since Division 2/unclassified boundary seals are no longer required to be explosionproof.
 
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