When is detectable tape used?

[brycenesbitt]

Looking for an update on detectable tape.

A trenching subcontractor is saying detectable tape is needed on top of 1" PVC conduit 24" deep under a commercial asphalt parking lot.
Are people doing detectable tape, or regular warning tape, for such an installation?

 

[tom baker]

No required by NEC , not a bad idea if can get installed about 6” down. If your tape is on top of the conduit it serves no purpose. The wires in the conduit can be used with a locator.
I have seen excavators take out conduit with the tape hanging out the side of the ditch.

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

Tracer wire is required is required with gas lines, water lines, and sewer lines.

Kind of redundant with electrical wiring.

 

[infinity]

Warning ribbons are requires for direct buried service conductors and cables. Detectable tape is not required.

{300.5(D)(3)}

 

[BarryO]

Warning ribbons are requires for direct buried service conductors and cables. Detectable tape is not required.

{300.5(D)(3)}

Well, that's interesting. I thought service conductors were always the responsibility of the POCO and that POCO stuff was outside the scope of the NEC; they have their own IEEE standards.

But then this is what the NEC defines as a Service Conductor: The conductors from the service point to the service disconnecting means.

And Service Point: The point of connection between the facilities of the serving utility and the premises wiring. Informational Note: The service point can be described as the point of demarcation between where the serving utility ends and the premises wiring begins. The serving utility generally specifies the location of the service point based on the conditions of service.

So basically if the point of demarcation is ahead of the meter base, then 300.5(D)(3) applies.

 

[infinity]

Well, that's interesting. I thought service conductors were always the responsibility of the POCO and that POCO stuff was outside the scope of the NEC; they have their own IEEE standards.

Yes the service point location can vary depending on the POCO. Around here if you had an underground service to a pole the service point would be at the pole so the electrician would be responsible from the meter to the service point.

 

[JohnE]

Warning ribbons are requires for direct buried service conductors and cables. Detectable tape is not required.

{300.5(D)(3)}

I run into a lot of electricians and inspectors that think the warning tape is required for all underground conduits.

It isn't a bad idea, but as you point out, isn't required.

I had an inspector tell me I needed detectable warning tape above the conduit going to a residential well....I 'got away' with regular tape - it was in the truck so I didn't mind installing it. I forget if I made him aware it wasn't required at all.

 

[infinity]

I run into a lot of electricians and inspectors that think the warning tape is required for all underground conduits.

It is not required for any conduits by the NEC. The POCO may have there own requirements.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Well, that's interesting. I thought service conductors were always the responsibility of the POCO and that POCO stuff was outside the scope of the NEC; they have their own IEEE standards.

But then this is what the NEC defines as a Service Conductor: The conductors from the service point to the service disconnecting means.

And Service Point: The point of connection between the facilities of the serving utility and the premises wiring. Informational Note: The service point can be described as the point of demarcation between where the serving utility ends and the premises wiring begins. The serving utility generally specifies the location of the service point based on the conditions of service.

So basically if the point of demarcation is ahead of the meter base, then 300.5(D)(3) applies.

There are two types of underground "service" conductors, but only one type is covered by the NEC.

Service Lateral.
The underground conductors between the utility electric supply system and the service point. (CMP-10)

Service Conductors, Underground. (Underground Service Conductors)
The underground conductors between the service point and the first point of connection to the service-entrance conductors in a terminal box, meter, or other enclosure, inside or outside the building wall. (CMP-10)

The service lateral is provided by the utility and not subject to the rules in the NEC, but underground service conductors are provided and installed by the electrical contractor and covered by the rules in the NEC.
Our utility changed the service point for underground commercial services from the line side of the meter to the secondary terminals in their pad mount transformer a couple of decades ago.

 

[Fred B]

I know code overall in not about "what if's", but personally would recommend not necessarily enforce marking and even traceable tapes for most any underground wiring as I've seen too many ripped up wiring by someone trying to find or do something else. Even calling 811 is no guaranty against hitting something so having a way to locate and mitigate by seeing the tape before hitting the wire is best.

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

It is not required for any conduits by the NEC. The POCO may have there own requirements.

Guess I’ve developed my own “shirt pocket rules”.

I put ribbon 12” above everything I put in the ground. Some reason I always thought it was required.

 

[brycenesbitt]

Even calling 811 is no guaranty against hitting something so having a way to locate and mitigate by seeing the tape before hitting the wire is best.

The OP project is a private lot, so calling 811 would no nothing at all! Nobody will mark those post-POCO underground conduits.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

The OP project is a private lot, so calling 811 would no nothing at all! Nobody will mark those post-POCO underground conduits.

While the 811 or other one call locators won't, there are plenty of companies that the contractor can hire to do non-utility locates.

 

[tom baker]

It’s very challenging to get the warning ribbon 12” above the conduit as it slows down backfill.

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

It’s very challenging to get the warning ribbon 12” above the conduit as it slows down backfill.

It does, but I like to backfill in a couple lifts anyway.