Which Codes apply

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

sc57ford

Member
Location
South Carolina
I am doing design for an unloading barge which will be stationary, houses unloading 5kV equipment, 480 V equipment, lighting, receptacles, etc. Since the barge is anchored in the river, is the NEC the controlling Code? Does the Coast Guard have any jurisdiction? If so, which Code or rules to they follow? Where is the break point? A 5kV feeder and a 480 V feeder will be brought to disconnect switches on land and flexible cables extended to junction boxes on the barge for distribution.
This barge unloads from other barges onto a conveyor mounted on this barge which conveys onto the land based conveyor.
Your thoughts are appreciated.
 
I think that this is a more of a 90.2(A)(1) installation, not a 90.2(B)(1). Also even if it is a 90.2(B)(1) installation, the FPN says :
FPN: Although the scope of this Code indicates that the Code does not cover installations in ships, portions of this Code are incorporated by reference into Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 110–113.
Click to expand...
Don
 
Funny you should mention that, Don. Here are some examples of citations of NEC articles in the text of Title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations:
? Subchapter J, article 111.05-33(a), states, "Each equipment grounding conductor must be sized in accordance with article 250-95 of the National Electrical Code (NEC) (NPFA 70)."
? Subchapter J, article 111.55-1(a), states, "Each switch must meet Article 380 of the National Electrical Code."
? Subchapter J, article 111.59-1, states, "Each Busway must meet article 364 of the National Electrical Code."

The first item was moved to 250.122 in the 1999 NEC. In the 2002 NEC, the second item was moved to 404, and the third item was moved to 368. I guess the government hasn't noticed yet.
 
sc57ford said:
I am doing design for an unloading barge which will be stationary, houses unloading 5kV equipment, 480 V equipment, lighting, receptacles, etc. Since the barge is anchored in the river, is the NEC the controlling Code? Does the Coast Guard have any jurisdiction?
Click to expand...
Please clarify something for me. Are you designing the vessel itself, or the power feed from the shore facility to the vessel, or both?

Any vessel that floats in or moves through navigable waters internal to the United States or through US coastal waters will fall within the jurisdiction of the US Coast Guard. Their rules are in Title 46 of the Coder of Federal Regulations, "Shipping." It is a question of fact as to whether your vessel will require a "Certification of Inspection" be issued by the USCG. The question hinges on the size and type of vessel, whether it is self-propelled and if so by sail or by what size of engine, and its intended use (e.g., whether it will carry passengers or whether it will carry hazardous cargo). If by chance this will be an "inspected vessel," then you might be in over your head. Design of vessels lies in the purview of "Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering," and the rules are nothing at all like the NEC or like "shoreside" building codes.

As to the shore power facilities, I am not certain what to tell you. It seems to me that NEC Article 555 would not apply to your situation. Clearly, there is much in the NEC concerning the power distribution system up to, but not including, the cables from the shore to the vessel. But I don't know what rules would apply to those cables.
 
Thanks for your comments. I am not designing the vessel or barge, only the electrical on the "barge". A used barge is being purchased and retrofitted for the purpose, hence the term "barge". I now understand that it will be floated into position and anchored by a round steel piling on each end and will forever stay moored in this position. It does rise up and down with the river. There will be very little space between the barge position and land. That brings me to Art. 553 and/or to Art. 555. The definition of building is almost anything according to the Handbook, from a pole to a signboard. I think that means this is a floating building. However, it could be a floating dock since other barges are docked up close to be unloaded, so Art. 555. Each has different requirements for the service as I read it. (However, since the barge to be unloaded is not receiveing power from my "barge", then maybe Art. 555 does not apply).
Other Articles of the Code will govern the onboard wiring and installation, its the service that I don't quite know how to handle yet. There are two pieces of equipment that are 4160V. Two 480V motors for tension and moving the outboard barge up and down the river for unloading, some flood lights, personell lighting, receptacles, etc, are fed from a 480v source.
Hope this has clarified my case. thanks for your comments.
 
Given that description, I would call this a "floating building." Thus, 553 would apply and 555 would not apply. Also, I believe that the USCG would not have jurisdiction over the vessel.
 
Good luck with that. 46CFR comprises about a half dozen volumes and takes up a foot or more of shelf space. And that is in an edition that is printed in a very small font.

You can look things up on line: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html

But it is no easy task to find something in any CFR document, if you don't already know what you are going to find, and where you are going to find it.
 
georgestolz said:
So, I guess what Charlie's trying to say in not so many words, is we can stop complaining about the NEC, because it gets a lot worse! :D
Click to expand...

Hey George! Are you bad mouthing our government?:p

It is kinda funny how anything they get their hands on seems to get screwed up in some form or the other.:smile:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top