Taking over a garage job

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jeff43222

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Location
Minneapolis, Minnesota
I was recently hired to take over a job wiring up a detached garage. The homeowner told me that the guy who started the work moved away and never called him back. Much of the wiring in the garage has already been done, and it looks OK. No permit was ever pulled.

What concerns me is that the homeowner trenched and installed Sch. 40 between the house and the garage several years ago when the garage was built (unconnected at both ends). Since I have to pull my own permit for this job, I wonder how to handle the already-buried conduit. I suppose theoretically the inspector could order it dug up since it was never inspected before it was covered.

I'm curious how other ECs handle this kind of situation.
 
In the event we take a job like that, we tell the HO no guarantees on the underground. You may be required to replace depending on the inspector's call.
Some inspectors are OK with the HO work some are not.

Each situation is different.
 
When both ends are exposed to connect your 90's, I would look at that for proper depth. If the 18" wasn't met, I suggest you plead your case to the ahj. Be prepared for the worse & explain to the homeowner.
 
The pipe is already covered all the way up to grade. At each end is a vertical piece sticking out of the ground.

The homeowner told me he trenched down 24", which is more than enough, but it's kinda hard to know for sure without digging it up.
 
My office would request someone to dig up both ends in this case. If you can, have the homeowner do it. He's the one who failed to pull a permit. Or you dig it up & charge accordingly.
 
Re: Taking over a garage job

jeff43222 said:
Since I have to pull my own permit for this job, I wonder how to handle the already-buried conduit.
Click to expand...

I've had two similar cases in recent years. In one case, the landowner buried feeders long before he built the barn that would need wiring. The other was a garage/woodshop conversion that already had oversized plastic underground but needed a new feed for the upgrade.

In both cases I called an inspector to discuss it before starting the work. One made a special trip out to the farm, talked to the owner about his installation, got the lay of the land and gave me the nod. The other just asked me to dig a hole somewhere between the buildings; said if the existing conduit was deep enough, just use it and leave that hole for the rough.

So I guess my advice is talk to an inspector. Be honest, explain the situation, and chances are s/he'll work with you. And if not, at least you'll know now and can bid accordingly.

Good luck,

Chris Knight
Syracuse NY
 
Could you slide a steel measuring tape down the pipe and see where it stops?
Just a thought,
Tim
 
How about a folding tape? It would fit into the pipe but would not turn around the radius of the 90 degree turn.

Bob
 
I would be as concerned about the use of pvc cement and that the conduit was all the way into the coupling. I would require a hole dug at one end of the run to check the depth and then cut the pvc at the coupling to see how deep the conduit goes into the coupling. The elbow and the vertical section could be replaced without much of an effort.

romeo
 
Certainly check with inspector first. It will be his choice on whether to accept pvc or not. I would if an inspection hole were dug at each end or in middle.

Using a cable suitable for direct burial should alleviate concerns about proper conduit installation in terms of cement and connection in coupling.
 
A utility locating company or a underground locator can find the wire in the PVC and determine the depth.
If you can locate it, dig down and install a PVC sight tube. '
Call the AHJ and see what they will accept
 
I had a job almost the same. The homeowner used NO pvc glue.


On a side note I always look out for people with part complete jobs. The old EC moved away could actually be: The old EC never got paid.
 
Good point John. I would accept that if the pvc is sized to for the conductor. By the way Bill is a great guy doing me a big favor and doing a good job.

If all continues to go well I will be back the first of May.

romeo
 
Romeo,

Glad to hear from you and that you're doing well. Good to hear you'll be back soon.

John
 
I just got off the phone with the inspector. He's willing to take my word for the depth if I dig down and verify that it's deep enough.

As it turns out, I'm going to have to do some digging, anyway, as the entire run is Sch. 40., and that's not compliant where it emerges from grade.
 
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