electrofelon
Senior Member
- Location
- Cherry Valley NY, Seattle, WA
I am quite certain that square D proposed this multiple times, but no sorry I do not have any PI numbers.
Surge Protectors on House panels
- Thread starter Josabrock77
- Start date
electrofelon
Senior Member
- Location
- Cherry Valley NY, Seattle, WA
I am calling BS on this
kkyyllee
Member
- Location
- california
- Occupation
- building inspector
I do not see any language in the code text that would exempt non-dwelling loads. If there is a service supplying dwelling units the service shall be protected or each next level distribution equipment. 230.67 B Exception does not offer any exemptions for loads not serving the dwelling units.
jaggedben
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern California
- Occupation
- Solar and Energy Storage Installer
I have to admit I agree with this. Although the house panel doesn't serve a dwelling unit, 230.67 isn't written in a way that that matters. Moreover, reading the substantiation, it applies equally to, say, smoke detectors in the common areas of a building with dwellings. (Now, if a surge damages the fire alarm systems at your workplace, I guess you're SOL.)
Choice_Gorilla
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I guess I’m assuming that OP is working off the 2023 code since his inspector is insisting that each apartment have a SPD, rather than just one for the service.
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
The area served by the house panel wouldn’t fit any of those definitions IMO.
I guess it depends on whether or not the Service has a SPD on it. If he installed an SPD on the house panel that would cover “each next level distribution” per the exception. If theres a SPD already part of the service I suppose I would still argue he doesn’t need one on his house panel.
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
So the question may be what code article applies to the OP, 230 for service or 215 for feeders?
kkyyllee
Member
- Location
- california
- Occupation
- building inspector
Thank you I did not realize that surge protection is addressed in 215 as well in 2023 NEC. Luckily we have some time in CA to have a clear understanding of this.
kkyyllee
Member
- Location
- california
- Occupation
- building inspector
So under 2023 NEC both 230.67 and 215.18 must be satisfied?
SPD @ the service + SPD at the load side of each feeder serving a dwelling unit or SPD at each distribution panel (Regardless of occupancy)
Under 2020 NEC a single SPD at the service would satisfy 230.67 or a SPD at each distribution panel (Regardless of occupancy)
SPD @ the service + SPD at the load side of each feeder serving a dwelling unit or SPD at each distribution panel (Regardless of occupancy)
Under 2020 NEC a single SPD at the service would satisfy 230.67 or a SPD at each distribution panel (Regardless of occupancy)
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
It is also in 225.42 in the 2023 code.
Choice_Gorilla
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
This is basically how I am seeing it. What code is OP on? and if it’s 2020 is there a SPD at the service or is he going for the exception to 230.67(b)
farmantenna
Senior Member
- Location
- mass
what a bunch of crap. sounds like .. .
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
The time to complain is at the comment stage before it has become code, not after it has been in the code for a couple of cycles.
mtnelect
HVAC & Electrical Contractor
- Location
- Southern California
- Occupation
- Contractor, C10 & C20 - Semi Retired
Surge protectors are enforced on main panels in Los Angeles County.