Siding around meter base

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Dan688

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Mansfield, Ohio, Richland
Does anyone know if siding has to be placed behind a meter base? Or can the siding be run up to the side of the meter base as long as j Chanel is run around the meter base?
I am at an inspection where no siding block is used, but the meter is fastened to the OSB. There is house wrap between the meter base and the OSB.
 
Welcome to the forum Dan

The issue you will have is whether or not the ko's are accessible for the power company. If water is 0prevented from getting behind then the building inspector should not have an issue with it.
 
ptonsparky said:
Arlington makes an excellent product for mounting meter bases. Siding butts right up to it and the service can go in when you have time, not after the siding guys get done.
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Arlington is a good company. They come up with good products that save a lot of headaches.
 
Yes. There is a vinyl meter mounting base for this. You don't want to mount the meter pan to the sheathing and have the siders work around it. Looks like garbage and will cause water problems.

Alternately you can make your own from Azek. 1610745755222.png



-Hal
 
Dan688 said:
I am at an inspection where no siding block is used, but the meter is fastened to the OSB. There is house wrap between the meter base and the OSB.
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Are you an inspector? If so please update your profile to reflect it!

To answer your question, there is nothing in the NEC but there might be a building code item. As I said above, it's not something that should be done because of water infiltration.

-Hal
 
Dennis Alwon said:
Welcome to the forum Dan

The issue you will have is whether or not the ko's are accessible for the power company. If water is 0prevented from getting behind then the building inspector should not have an issue with it.
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Doesn’t it violate the 1/4” air space rule?
Siding around the meterbase like that doesn’t make it watertight. I’ve been to a few houses where the siding is rotten behind the meterbase.
water falls on top of the meterbase and runs to the back under the siding. Caulking it tight also defeats the 1/4” rule, yes or no?
 
Hv&Lv said:
Doesn’t it violate the 1/4” air space rule?
Siding around the meterbase like that doesn’t make it watertight. I’ve been to a few houses where the siding is rotten behind the meterbase.
water falls on top of the meterbase and runs to the back under the siding. Caulking it tight also defeats the 1/4” rule, yes or no?
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There is still the 1/4" pace behind the panel or meter base so I am not sure what you are talking about. If installed correctly with flashing or J channel around the meter base there shouldn't be an issue.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
There is still the 1/4" pace behind the panel or meter base so I am not sure what you are talking about. If installed correctly with flashing or J channel around the meter base there shouldn't be an issue.
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Have you really ever saw any meterbases sealed or flashed correctly over the top cap? I haven’t.
Most of them I can look and see the OSB in the gap.
 
hbiss said:
Yes. There is a vinyl meter mounting base for this. You don't want to mount the meter pan to the sheathing and have the siders work around it. Looks like garbage and will cause water problems.

Alternately you can make your own from Azek. View attachment 2554980



-Hal
Click to expand...
Now this is the way they should be done.
 
hbiss said:
I thought that an airspace was only required when mounting a panel to damp or below grade masonry.

-Hal
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312.2 Damp and Wet Locations. In damp or wet locations, surface-type enclosures within the scope of this article shall be placed or equipped so as to prevent moisture or water from entering and accumulating within the cabinet or cutout box, and shall be mounted so there is at least 6-mm (1∕4-in.) airspace between the enclosure and the wall or other supporting surface. Enclosures installed in wet locations shall be weather‐ proof. For enclosures in wet locations, raceways or cables enter‐ ing above the level of uninsulated live parts shall use fittings listed for wet locations.
 
If you are doing a new install (before or as the siding is being installed), the Arlington siding panel is a great product. However, many HO's get their siding installed either after the electric service was installed or have not upgraded their electric service. In addition the "siding guys" are not qualified or authorized to pull the meter pan off the house and often just run the J-channel up to the side on the enclosure. This is typical of what they do :)
 

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goldstar said:
If you are doing a new install (before or as the siding is being installed), the Arlington siding panel is a great product. However, many HO's get their siding installed either after the electric service was installed or have not upgraded their electric service. In addition the "siding guys" are not qualified or authorized to pull the meter pan off the house and often just run the J-channel up to the side on the enclosure. This is typical of what they do :)
Click to expand...
That’s what I mean by not being weathertight.
Water will have no problem getting behind the siding in that installation.
 
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