Separation of Gas and Electric in ditch

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gent

Member
I can't find a separation requirement for a natural gas line and underground service entrance conductors. Can they run in the same ditch?
:confused:
 

bennie

Esteemed Member
Re: Separation of Gas and Electric in ditch

Gas lines should be at 30 inches, so the electric cables should be under that elevation by six inches.
 

gregoryelectricinc

Senior Member
Re: Separation of Gas and Electric in ditch

Excel Energy has a standard in their "Blue" book. I don't have mine handy but I believe they require 12" seperation. This is ussually done by "Shelving" the trench with a backhoe so that the seperation is vertical. At least thats how my company does it.
 

bennie

Esteemed Member
Re: Separation of Gas and Electric in ditch

Secondary cables at 6 inches. Primary cables at 12 inches.
 

brian john

Senior Member
Location
Leesburg, VA
Re: Separation of Gas and Electric in ditch

3 years ago in VA there was a residential property where the utility feeder and gas crossed
in the same ditch. The Utility cable faulted at some point and the gas line ruptured. Blew one house off the foundation, two kids were blown out the bay window into the shrubs, father was badly burnt and the mother was killed. The two utilities were finger pointing, course the courts settled the case
 

dshipcott

Member
Re: Separation of Gas and Electric in ditch

In my experience seperation is determined by the utility companies that serve the area. You can go online and visit their web site or find a phone number so you can call a service planner or inspector. Some utility companies, like SCE, have downloadable versions of their underground service requirements.
 

pierre

Senior Member
Re: Separation of Gas and Electric in ditch

In Westchester County NY, Con Edison requires all gas and electrical to maintain at least a 12 inch separation, no exceptions, which is enforced by the electrical inspector.

Pierre
 

charlie

Senior Member
Location
Indianapolis
Re: Separation of Gas and Electric in ditch

Originally posted by gent:
. . . separation requirement for a natural gas line and underground service entrance conductors.
You say service entrance conductors but I am assuming you are talking about service conductors. The NESC would be the standard and Rule 353 would apply. Rule 353A1 states "These rules apply to a radial separation of supply and communication conductors from each other and from other underground structures such as sewers, water lines, gas and other fuel lines, building foundations, steam lines, etc. when separation is equal to or greater then 12 inches.
NOTE: For radial separation less than 12 inches see Rule 354."

Rule 354 covers random lay and refers back to Rule 353 for gas lines. Prior to the 2002 edition of the NESC, random separation was permitted as long as all parties agreed. The previous edition was the 1997 edition. :cool:
 
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