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Thursday, August 20, 1998

Question:

You are placing service equipment in the mechanical room and it is located about 16 feet from the outside wall. Since you are using only 2 sticks of conduit and 1 coupling, the electrical inspector said it was O.K., even though you have no disconnects on the outside. Does this installation meets the requirements of the NEC?
A

Answer:

Section 230-70(a) states in part 'The service disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily accessible location ... nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors.' It seems that there is no distance allowance permitted. Notice the question says the electrical inspector said it was O.K. Don't forget that section 90-4 states that the authority having jurisdiction may waive specific requirements in this Code ... where it is assured that equivalent objectives can be achieved by establishing and maintaining effective safety. In many areas of the country, distances have been established. Ten circuit feet is common and was used in Indianapolis (I don't know if it is still used) since it can be achieved without using any couplings.

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