For residential and commercial buildings, electrical power shall be supplied to the building in order for the inspector to perform final inspection does this mean 240 volt or 120 on both phases just to check afci and gfci circuits as useing a double pole bkr with jumper phase to phase seems bad to get service release so inspector could check
service release
- Thread starter joel hall
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
You're asking about a final for the service only?
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Around here you can get a final for a service before the walls are even built. Not sure how it would be energized because the POCO won't connect until AFTER you get the final.
here in tn they want the pnl energized before they pass a final so they check afci and gfci in a new build or a old dwelling that power has been off for three months it says For residential and commercial buildings, electrical power shall be supplied to the building in order for the inspector to perform final inspection
could this force you to buy a service release
could this force you to buy a service release
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I'm confused if you're only trying to get a final for the service what does AFCI and GFCI have to do with it?
jaggedben
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern California
- Occupation
- Solar and Energy Storage Installer
Around here you can sometimes get a 'meter release' or a 'green tag' for the utility to connect the service up, before the building or electrical final, which comes later. Seems like they should follow such a process if they want you to have the service energized for the final.
oh i,m sorry if you do a service up grade to existing building and the building has not had power with-in 3 months or when you build a new home they want you to first put power to the service so they the inspector can check all afci and gfci circuits i would think 120 volt from a generator going to both phases would do the same thing for that purpose would do but some inspectors want a service release which would cost another inspection fee
The TN rule reads as follows: For residential and commercial buildings, electrical power shall be supplied to the building in order for inspector to perform final inspection.
As you can see, it is non specific. Most of the inspectors I know will accept 120v connected in a manner that allows all GFCI & AFCIs to be checked.The majority of my jobs have "Service Release" power (allowed in TN for 45 days before Final) so its a mote point for me
As you can see, it is non specific. Most of the inspectors I know will accept 120v connected in a manner that allows all GFCI & AFCIs to be checked.The majority of my jobs have "Service Release" power (allowed in TN for 45 days before Final) so its a mote point for me
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
As Augie stated, Tn allows what is called a "service release". This allows the POCO to energize a service. It is intended so that the house/building can have power for final inspection. Power has to be there in some form for the final inspection. Some inspectors were having problems with using power from a temp pole to power a panel. That's because the GFCI on the temp pole would trip because of it being bonded both at the temp pole and the service panel. The same thing that happens on a generator with GFCI and the neutral & gnd are bonded and then connect to a service where it is also bonded.
Most, including myself, use the Service Release so that HVAC equipment can be used to acclimate flooring before it is put down or for proper drying of Drywall mud, also for painters. This hopefully can be completed within 45 days as that is the limit for a Service Release. If it expires, you have to get another permit/inspection.
To get an inspection for a Service release, all is needed is the SE conductors landed, the GES in place, and (1) GFCI circuit & outlet wired. I usually go ahead and make up all gnds & neutrals (excluding neutrals for GFCI/AFCI) in the panel. This is just to make it easier when I make up the branch circuits for the final.
Although some inspectors made it sound like you were required to get a Service Release, it is not mandatory if you can get power to the service by other means. I just finished a barn/garage and I used the power from the temp pole to get a final. I put in two regular 20A breakers in the temp panel and ran a 3-wire cable to the service panel. This bypassed the GFCI on the temp panel but because the receptacles in the garage were GFCI I felt it was safe and it was only for final inspection.
I have used a generator for final but discovered that I can use my inverter in my van to power a panel by jumping the two legs. The GFCI receptacles can be checked this way and also lighting. Obviously no 2-pole loads but the inspector was fine with not checking them as he saw they were wired correctly.
Some POCOs require an inspection on an existing service if the power has been shut off for an extended period of time (varies from POCO to POCO). Some areas require the Service release to check the existing GFCI/AFCI.
Most, including myself, use the Service Release so that HVAC equipment can be used to acclimate flooring before it is put down or for proper drying of Drywall mud, also for painters. This hopefully can be completed within 45 days as that is the limit for a Service Release. If it expires, you have to get another permit/inspection.
To get an inspection for a Service release, all is needed is the SE conductors landed, the GES in place, and (1) GFCI circuit & outlet wired. I usually go ahead and make up all gnds & neutrals (excluding neutrals for GFCI/AFCI) in the panel. This is just to make it easier when I make up the branch circuits for the final.
Although some inspectors made it sound like you were required to get a Service Release, it is not mandatory if you can get power to the service by other means. I just finished a barn/garage and I used the power from the temp pole to get a final. I put in two regular 20A breakers in the temp panel and ran a 3-wire cable to the service panel. This bypassed the GFCI on the temp panel but because the receptacles in the garage were GFCI I felt it was safe and it was only for final inspection.
I have used a generator for final but discovered that I can use my inverter in my van to power a panel by jumping the two legs. The GFCI receptacles can be checked this way and also lighting. Obviously no 2-pole loads but the inspector was fine with not checking them as he saw they were wired correctly.
Some POCOs require an inspection on an existing service if the power has been shut off for an extended period of time (varies from POCO to POCO). Some areas require the Service release to check the existing GFCI/AFCI.
If you could see how often we find outdoor, bath or kitchen receptacles that are not GFCI protected, the expense of having power when completing a final seems well justified.
If the "service release" cost upsets the owner, now that TN has changed from AFCI in the bedrooms only to 90% of the residence that owner will have a fit.
If the "service release" cost upsets the owner, now that TN has changed from AFCI in the bedrooms only to 90% of the residence that owner will have a fit.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
In many cases we get temp power to the house so that there is either heat or a/c. We wire a few gfci circuits, a 240 receptacle-- usually the dryer and of course the hvac. Everything else is capped off. When the final comes along everything is energized.
Only one area has a problem with that setup...
Only one area has a problem with that setup...
- Status