Matt Mckenzie
Member
- Location
- United States
Is it against code to run a 250 foot piece of UF on top of the ground where there is no traffic for temporary power to a residential project?
Temporary wiring
- Thread starter Matt Mckenzie
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Massachusetts
It's a judgement call based on physical damage.
We would likely sleeve it in PVC.
JFletcher
Senior Member
- Location
- Williamsburg, VA
Look in article 590. Your proposed installation here (VA) would likely fail an inspection, 590.2, 590.4(H)....
yet running 400' of extension cord from a power box/temporary power is a-okay.
yet running 400' of extension cord from a power box/temporary power is a-okay.
OP: UF is covered in 340-
340.12 Uses not permitted
(10) Where subject to physical damage
Temp is covered in 590-
590.4(H):
Protection from Accidental damage.
"Flexible cords and cables shall be protected from accidental damage.
Sharp corners and projections shall be avoided.Where passing through doorways or other pinch points, protection shall be provided to prevent damage."
As iwire suggested, sleeve it.
JFletcher
Senior Member
- Location
- Williamsburg, VA
Sleeving it at grade level (on the ground) violates 300.5 per 590.2. Yet no AHJ here or anywhere I've been will have a problem with umpteen extension cords traversing the same distance even if they are there for way more than 90 days.
Unless there is an exception in 590, temporary power has to be installed the same way as permanent power. The AHJ here would look at UF across the ground and start blowing holes in your "no traffic" argument and have your failure report written up before the echo of truck door closing was heard.
Landscaping, foot traffic, LULL/forklifts, etc. even erosion are things that can damage UF across the ground. Grey cable across dirt isnt the most visible thing ever; what if someone trips over it?
Trench it in at the proper depth and bill accordingly, or put your temp power way away from the house and let everyone bring their own extension cords.
- Location
- Massachusetts
I am going to disagree. 300.5 applies to underground conduits only, not conduits on grade.
JFletcher
Senior Member
- Location
- Williamsburg, VA
can sch 40 PVC be installed where subject to damage?
- Location
- Massachusetts
Just because a PVC is laid on the ground does not mean it is subject to damage.
That is a judgement call by the AHJ.
Would it be more or less subject to damage than a rubber cord run across the ground per 590?
JFletcher
Senior Member
- Location
- Williamsburg, VA
No, however, here, on the homes I've wired, 90 days is a pipe dream. You can unplug those cords every 89 days (or every night when copper scrap prices are high) then reinstall them; can or WILL you do that with UF or conduit?
W/o knowing more of the OP's install, I cannot comment further, except to say that other trades are NOT going to respect/notice your UF on the ground. They wont respect extension cords either, fwiw, however that is on the various trades, not the EC, should they get mangled or tripped over.
- Location
- Massachusetts
The 90 day limit is only for 'holiday lighting'.
(Folks, don't get upset I did not say 'Christmas lighting' the rules apply to all holiday lighting.)
I have assumed the OP is asking about a construction project as you seem to as well.
In that case
If there is an open construction permit the temps can stay.
Could be damaged or it could be fine. We run feeds to office trailers across dirt and asphalt in PVC pretty often with no real issues.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
PVC on grade may or may not be subject to damage.
UF cable on grade may or may not be subject to damage.
Sleeving UF in PVC may not be acceptable if the potential damage that might be expected will damage the PVC. You can't sleeve it in PVC and expect that is enough protection for laying it across a driveway, but that one is a little more obvious then if you lay it across an area that you don't expect any traffic to be an issue. If someone trips over it, that is not so much an NEC issue, but could still be workplace safety issue to keep in mind.
I don't believe there is any securing or supporting relief in 590 for PVC or UF cable so you go back to the applicible chapter 3 articles to get securing and support methods even for temporary installations.
UF cable on grade may or may not be subject to damage.
Sleeving UF in PVC may not be acceptable if the potential damage that might be expected will damage the PVC. You can't sleeve it in PVC and expect that is enough protection for laying it across a driveway, but that one is a little more obvious then if you lay it across an area that you don't expect any traffic to be an issue. If someone trips over it, that is not so much an NEC issue, but could still be workplace safety issue to keep in mind.
I don't believe there is any securing or supporting relief in 590 for PVC or UF cable so you go back to the applicible chapter 3 articles to get securing and support methods even for temporary installations.
Practically speaking, I don't see any difference between this and extension cords going all over the place and workers walking on those cords. Except you are using UF cable which in fact may be stronger material.
Code wise it may or may not be a violation. The AHJ may or may not write you up.
I am sure you will use common sense.
I doubt that UF in PVC would be failed for any temp- the combo is better than than any rubber cord.
Even if there was a strict time limit, if the op was using a saw pole/tapping of existing panel (which is what it sounds like he is doing), all he would have to to is un lug the UF from the breaker/panel and then relug it - effectively "unplugging it" and "plugging it back in"- might take all of 5 mins.
JFletcher
Senior Member
- Location
- Williamsburg, VA
Fair cop on the 90 day thing, tho I do no understand the apparent aversion to trenching in UF in a resi project. It's dirt, not a paved parking lot. Yes, more labor, but man... The first time any machinery rolls over that PVC, it's done. Maybe other trades are more respectful/less idiotic elsewhere. The framers alone are going to run forklifts around every sq ft of that property to get trusses in place.
IF stringing UF along the ground will fly with the OP's inspector, dont be surprised if you have to go out there 3 or 4 times and repair/replace the run while the house is under construction. Even barricading off that section with stakes and hi-vis plastic orange fencing is no guarantee the forklift driver wont take a shortcut right over your UF.
At this point, I dont even care if it's legal, it's a bad idea. and I have never seen a temporary power setup for resi power here with UF on the ground, sleeved or not.
IF stringing UF along the ground will fly with the OP's inspector, dont be surprised if you have to go out there 3 or 4 times and repair/replace the run while the house is under construction. Even barricading off that section with stakes and hi-vis plastic orange fencing is no guarantee the forklift driver wont take a shortcut right over your UF.
At this point, I dont even care if it's legal, it's a bad idea. and I have never seen a temporary power setup for resi power here with UF on the ground, sleeved or not.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
That is why you put temp service away from the house, let the builders run their own cords to it. If they damage them it is not really your problem.
GFCI is required on most receptacles you would put there for several good reasons as well, if that cord gets damaged that is one of those reasons.
GFCI is required on most receptacles you would put there for several good reasons as well, if that cord gets damaged that is one of those reasons.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Much more labor.
The OP stated there is no traffic, what is the aversion to taking them at their word?
That is why you put temp service away from the house, let the builders run their own cords to it. If they damage them it is not really your problem.
I had thought about that- but OTOH, the OP has this 250' of UF and maybe hes just trying to earn a little extra money by running temp to a site- not a thing wrong with that at all.
The op said there is no traffic but if they hit that even if it is clearly marked, then they can pay to have it fixed....... the op just gets paid to come out and fix it. Their stupidity is not his problem, but money in his pocket.
Another plus for doing the sleeving plan and not sinking the UF in the ground- if the OP ends up disconnecting the temp, he can reuse the material- the sleeved UF will still be pretty clean, PVC may only be a little dirty,
Last edited:
midamericairon
Member
If you install UF then it will fall under the NEC. Stringing extension cords from the temp service falls under OSHA rules. I believe(don't quote me on this) that according to OSHA rules, extension cords are not supposed to be run directly on the ground because of a trip hazard. Any site I've been on the carpenters build stands to keep the cords elevated to a certain height above grade.
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Coppersmith
Senior Member
- Location
- Tampa, FL, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Sounds like the Cadillac of job sites. All the ones I've been on they just string them on the ground. Usually they are beat up with insulation chewed off from vehicles running them over. GFCI's? Sometimes.
I'm trying to imagine how high these stands have to be to keep the entire cord off the ground. Are there running boards between the stands? If they are within a foot of the ground, sounds like still a trip hazard.
midamericairon
Member
I believe around 8 or 9 feet. I know OSHA specifies the height, just not sure. The stands are placed every 10 feet or so. I guess you don't see OSHA on job sites much around you. They are at several of the jobs I work at, although, most of my jobs are commercial or industrial.
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