SPD Requirements

[AJ Electric]

Question,
If I install an SPD at the main panel in a dwelling, do I also need an SPD at the sub panel?
215.18 seems to say so, but 242.13 say I don't? Please advise...Inspector is asking for both..

 

[NTesla76]

What code cycle?

 

[AJ Electric]

What code cycle?

2023

 

[PaulEd]

Question,
If I install an SPD at the main panel in a dwelling, do I also need an SPD at the sub panel?
215.18 seems to say so, but 242.13 say I don't? Please advise...Inspector is asking for both..

SPD required when serving a dwelling unit, dormitories, guest rooms of hotels and motels, and sleeping rooms of nursing homes according to 215.18 2023. In a dwelling if you have a subpanel where do you extrapolate that you also need one for a subpanel?

 

[Greentagger]

Yes. Per 2023.

 

[PaulEd]

Yes. Per 2023.

Can you elaborate? You're saying the subpanel does need it as of the 2023? Which code section says that?

 

[augie47]

215.18 requires surge protection for feeders for distribution equipment and it is to be located at the load side.
I thought there was wording that exempted that requirement if the service had SPD but I have yet to find such an exception.

 

[jap]

I say no.

The rule states where "a" feeder supplies "a" "dwelling unit", "a" Surge protective device",,, all singular statements.
it doesn't say it needs more than (1) SPD.

To me, as long as you have an SPD located on the load side of the first means of overcurrent protection at the distribution equipment you shouldn't need multiple SPD's.

I'm sure others will see this differently.

Jap>

 

[jes25]

Question,
If I install an SPD at the main panel in a dwelling, do I also need an SPD at the sub panel?
215.18 seems to say so, but 242.13 say I don't? Please advise...Inspector is asking for both..

Are you saying you have Main Service panel with several breakers feeding several loads one of which is a feeder to a subpanel? Or are you saying you have a service disconnect outside somewhere that feeds the entire dwelling via a feeder? In the second case you don't need one at the service per 230.67 (B) exception. If you have the first situation, I agree with Jap.

 

[PaulEd]

I say no.

The rule states where "a" feeder supplies "a" "dwelling unit", "a" Surge protective device",,, all singular statements.
it doesn't say it needs more than (1) SPD.

To me, as long as you have an SPD located on the load side of the first means of overcurrent protection at the distribution equipment you shouldn't need multiple SPD's.

I'm sure others will see this differently.

Jap>

I see it the same as you

 

[petersonra]

N 215.18 Surge Protection.

(A) Surge-Protective Device. Where a feeder supplies any of the following, a surge-protective device (SPD) shall be installed:

(1) Dwelling units

(2) Dormitory units

(3) Guest rooms and guest suites of hotels and motels

(4) Areas of nursing homes and limited-care facilities used exclusively as patient sleeping rooms

(B) Location. The SPD shall be installed in or adjacent to distribution equipment, connected to the load side of the feeder, that contains branch circuit overcurrent protective device(s) that supply the locations specified in 215.18(A).

(C) Type. The SPD shall be a Type 1 or Type 2 SPD.

(D) Replacement. Where the distribution equipment supplied by the feeder is replaced, all of the requirements of this section shall apply.

(E) Ratings. SPDs shall have a nominal discharge current rating (In) of not less than 10kA.

The wiring to every panelboard is a feeder, so (A) requires an SPD if any of the locations in (A) apply.

You cannot meet the requirement in (B) unless you put an SPD in every panelboard that has BCs for locations listed in (A).

 

[PaulEd]

The wiring to every panelboard is a feeder, so (A) requires an SPD if any of the locations in (A) apply.

You cannot meet the requirement in (B) unless you put an SPD in every panelboard that has BCs for locations listed in (A).

To me it seems residentially where a feeder feeds a residence not every feeder in that residence. Thats how I interpret it.

Paul

 

[petersonra]

To me it seems residentially where a feeder feeds a residence not every feeder in that residence. Thats how I interpret it.

Paul

Suppose you are right. How do you get past (B)??

 

[shortcircuit2]

Question,
If I install an SPD at the main panel in a dwelling, do I also need an SPD at the sub panel?
215.18 seems to say so, but 242.13 say I don't? Please advise...Inspector is asking for both..

Given that you probably have a meter-main outside to comply with 230.85, your "main panel" is feeder-fed distribution equipment (sub-panel) with an SPD in compliance with 230.67(B) Exception

The meter-main is the "Service Equipment", and in the above installation you will need an SPD at each next level distribution equipment downstream towards the load...per 230.67(B) Exception

215.18 (or 225.42) would also require the same for a feeder supplying a dwelling...215.15(B) and 225.42(B) require the SPD to be installed in or adjacent to the distribution equipment with the branch circuit overcurrent protective devices at the load side of the feeder.

242.13 just tells me how to install a Type 1 SPD and 230.67, 215.18, and 225.42 tell me where to install an SPD.

 

[jap]

To me part A tells you that you have to have one.
Part B tells you where to put it.
If you put it in the Main Panel's buss bars you are installing it on the load side of the feeder that contains the branch circuits.

Why would you need it in others?

To me, if they want an SPD for the subpanels that should be listed in part A.

Jap>

 

[jap]

Given that you probably have a meter-main outside to comply with 230.85, your "main panel" is feeder-fed distribution equipment (sub-panel) with an SPD in compliance with 230.67(B) Exception

The meter-main is the "Service Equipment", and in the above installation you will need an SPD at each next level distribution equipment downstream towards the load...per 230.67(B) Exception

215.18 (or 225.42) would also require the same for a feeder supplying a dwelling...215.15(B) and 225.42(B) require the SPD to be installed in or adjacent to the distribution equipment with the branch circuit overcurrent protective devices at the load side of the feeder.

242.13 just tells me how to install a Type 1 SPD and 230.67, 215.18, and 225.42 tell me where to install an SPD.

An SPD is only required at each next level distribution equipment downstream towards the load if you "DO NOT" choose to install an SPD at the Service Equipment.

First we'd need to know if the OP's OCPD in the Main panel is also the Service Disconnect or not.

Jap>