Utility Clearance Requirements

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sfav8r

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San Francisco Bay Area
This is a little unusual. I'm trying to assist a customer in a disagreement with the local Utility. The problem is that the uninsulated utility lines (Under 750v) run across the front of his 3 story building with only 49" of clearance. he is trying to replace the windows but they can't put up scaffolding due to the clearance. The utility says they can "fix" it by removing the 4 unprotected wires and replacing with quadraplex but that he will have to pay $17,000. I'm not sure what the clearance requirements are for the utility lines but it does seem like they shouldn't be so close you can't work on your won building. Any suggestions where to find this information or who I can refer the client to? This is in PG&E's area.

Thanks
 
Are the lines serving his building or just going past it on the way somewhere else?
If the lines are inside a PG&E easement, I suspect that he is up the creek w/o paddle.
 
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Utilities are bound to follow the NESC, not be confused with the NEC. In this case it's Tables 232 and/or 234. Obviously, I don't have easy access to my copy at the moment. On the surface. 49" sounds pretty thin for low voltage but I wouldn't be surprised to find it's within code. Your customer might be stuck in a situation where the POCO holds all, or at least most, of the cards. His best bet might be to appeal the $17,000 to a higher up at the utility. Offering to meet halfway at $8500, or even lower like $5000, might be well received (yes, I know that's still a lot of money).

Good luck. If approached reasonably the POCO might reconsider the financial end of things, but I would not expect any bending on safety concerns.


Ben


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Utilities are bound to follow the NESC, not be confused with the NEC. In this case it's Tables 232 and/or 234. Obviously, I don't have easy access to my copy at the moment. On the surface. 49" sounds pretty thin for low voltage but I wouldn't be surprised to find it's within code. Your customer might be stuck in a situation where the POCO holds all, or at least most, of the cards. His best bet might be to appeal the $17,000 to a higher up at the utility. Offering to meet halfway at $8500, or even lower like $5000, might be well received (yes, I know that's still a lot of money).

Good luck. If approached reasonably the POCO might reconsider the financial end of things, but I would not expect any bending on safety concerns.


Ben


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
sfav8r said:
This is a little unusual. I'm trying to assist a customer in a disagreement with the local Utility. The problem is that the uninsulated utility lines (Under 750v) run across the front of his 3 story building with only 49" of clearance. he is trying to replace the windows but they can't put up scaffolding due to the clearance. The utility says they can "fix" it by removing the 4 unprotected wires and replacing with quadraplex but that he will have to pay $17,000. I'm not sure what the clearance requirements are for the utility lines but it does seem like they shouldn't be so close you can't work on your won building. Any suggestions where to find this information or who I can refer the client to? This is in PG&E's area.

Thanks
Click to expand...

At the least have the utiltiy install line hose covers...www.salisburybyhoneywell.com/en-US/Pages/Product.aspx?category=Conventional_System_Line_Hose&cat=H
 

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