Service Pole Hieght

[djc326]

I have been looking for information on how high the service pole needs to be above the roof line. The pole is along the slope of the roof about 3-4 feet from the bottom horizontal. The new service is in back of the house and the pole is at the street in front. New is on the same side of house as old meter box. I think the minimum needs to be 3 ft. but I have been told that it is old code has that hieght changed or should I be safe and just do 6 ft?

Thank you.
Dan

 

[hurk27]

Re: Service Pole Hieght

there is requirements.
1. It has to be high enough so that the lowest part of the drip loop is not below 10' to grade.

2. If the roof has a pitch of 4/12 or greater the clearance has to be 3'

3. If the drop only run above the roof over hang not more than 6' of wire more than 4' in you only have to have 18" of clearance.

4. A roof that has a pitch under 4/12 has to have 8' clearance

For more info look at 230.24

[ October 19, 2003, 12:54 AM: Message edited by: hurk27 ]

 

[charlie]

Re: Service Pole Hieght

Sorry Wayne, I assume this is an NESC issue because of the ownership of the poles and wires. My assumption is that these are owned by the serving electric utility. This also depends on whether or not the NESC is adopted by your state into law or if the electric utilities can make their own standards. I can only give you what I recall from memory since my copy of the NESC is in the office.

1. The lowest part of the drip loop is 12 1/2 or 12 feet, depending whether it is open wire or cabled on a messenger (triplex). If the construction of the structure is such that 12 1/2 or 12 feet can not be obtained, that may be reduced by no more than 2 feet.

2 and 4. The pitch of the roof has nothing to do with the NESC requirements. The clearance over a roof is 3 feet unless it is accessible to pedestrian traffic. If the roof is accessible to pedestrian traffic, the clearances in item 1 of my answer apply.

3. If the drop is within 6 feet of the through the roof raceway, it has to clear the roof by 18". There are no other restrictions as to the distance it may be over the roof.

The rules in 230.24 apply where the customer (owner or the owner's EC is required to install the service drop).

 

[charlie]

Re: Service Pole Hieght

Sorry, I stopped short of Dan's answer.

Dan, please contact your serving electric utility. They will tell you what they need in order to give you service. We limit how high a service mast is permitted to be and still hit it without being guyed. If we require a guy, it is required to be 2 stiff legs, anchored with lag screws to 2 separate rafters, guy wire will not do. Every electric utility is different.

 

[Guest]

Re: Service Pole Hieght

For my PoCo their rule is the maximum height for 2" RMC is 54" above the roof before you have to add bracing. If you go above 54" you have to brace the mast. They require at least two rigid stays. They do not allow RMC couplings above the roofline.

 

[hurk27]

Re: Service Pole Hieght

Charlie

I assume this is an NESC issue

I'm thinking he's talking about the riser pipe for the service and not a POCO pole as he is asking how high above the roof line?
If this is the case then 230.24 does cover this

 

[charlie]

Re: Service Pole Hieght

I'm thinking he's talking about the riser pipe for the service and not a POCO pole as he is asking how high above the roof line? If this is the case then 230.24 does cover this.

That is true to a point. The NEC covers the minimum requirements but the serving electric utility is going to connect to the mast so it is also required to meet their rules. For instance, we will not permit the mast to extend more than 3' without guying and we will not permit a coupling above the roof. Additionally, the mast is not permitted to be more than 3' back from the edge of the roof.

These are not NEC or NESC rules, they are our rules. If an EC doesn't follow our rules, he will have to run a generator for a long time.