Two services-One Building

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apjpe

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I have a situation with a strip mall with one large store separated from the rest of the strip mall by a three hour fire wall. It has been my experience that most jurisdictions require a four hour separation to serve the building with two services. Does anybody know where the four hour number comes from in the NEC? The Article 100 definition of a building just states "fire wall" no rating.

Thanks.
 
Determining separation would depend on Chapter 3 Use and occupancy classifications, Type of building, etc. IBC (International Building Code), IFC ( International Fire Code).........Local AHJ
 
apjpe said:
Does anybody know where the four hour number comes from in the NEC? The Article 100 definition of a building just states "fire wall" no rating.
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The NEC doesn't contain a 4 hour separation requirement, or any other details on what an adequate separation wall is. This would be an IBC issue. See IBC Table 705.4.

Is the facility large enough that NEC 230.3(C)(1) applies? Another solution would be 277/480 for the big box and 120/208 for the shops.

Martin
 
Well it's interesting. The architects question was actually whether or not you HAD to hit the building with two services because of the separation. My interpretation is that as long as you use the six disconnect rule on the exterior of the building, you could serve the building(s) from one service if the laterals were underground.
 
4 hour walls are only required to separation "H" occupancies .. a 3 hour fire wall effectively creates 2 separate "buildings"... the NEC question might be.. can you run a service from one "building" to feed a second "building"
 
My answer to the architect is that you can serve this building with a single service. You can then use feeders to panels in each occupancy. You are never required by the NEC to install separate services to different areas of the same building. You are sometimes permitted to, but you are never required to.
 
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