Code Violations

1 | WORKING CLEARANCE

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT

The intention of the code language surrounding working clearance for electrical equipment has to do with safety and maintenance:

Electrical equipment can very quickly become a fire hazard when you consider all the types of code violations or damage that can be sustained over time if not maintained.
- In the event of a fire, this equipment needs to be accessible to fire response personnel and anyone in the home who may be responding to an electrical fire first.
Electrical equipment needs to be accessible for maintainance purposes:
- Electrical meters need to always be accessible by the utility.
- For general maintenance of breakers and disconnects, clutter and vegetation needs to be cleared around this area.
- There needs to be space for the door of any electrical enclosure to be able to open at a minimum 90 degree angle.

GENERAL WORKING CLEARANCES

All electrical equipment must have sufficient clearances as described in NEC 110.26.

The simplest way to think of this is to imagine a phone booth around the equipment:

There should be NO obstructions within 36" in front of the equipment
The equipment needs to fit in a clear window on the wall measuring a minimum of 30" by 6'6".
- Note that under NEC 110.26.(A)(3) Exception 2, existing systems may be grandfathered in if the working clearance height is less than 6'6", however, all new equipment will be required to comply to the full 6'6" height clearance.

The most important factor is the working depth. There shouldn't be anything obstructing within 3' in front of the electrical equipment. The height (6'7") and width (30") requirements are a window with the electrical equipment permitted to be located anywhere within this window.

It is important to screen for working clearance violations with existing equipment but we also need to ensure that the new PV electrical equipment will be installable with adequate working clearance as well.

NOTE: There are no minimum height requirements.

Service Wire Insulation (TAPS ONLY)

If your inteconnection method is going to be a supply side or load side tap, you must ensure that there is a proper amount of insulation around the serivce wires you will be working on.

If the wire is not insulated all the way to the lug, then a TDR is required, otherwise, it will likely arc when electricians are applying piercing connectors in and pressing down on the dead front.

Example pictures:

First photo shows the site survey image the design was based on. Second photo shows the arcing and damage that occurred at install when the field tech applied pressure to the connecting wires when tapping.

GAS METERS

Working clearance around gas meters are usually dictated by the utility. We will follow the general rules that most utilities follow as seen on the right:

a clear 3' radius around the regulator will be required.
A clear 3' zone vertically above the meter is required up to 10'

All areas outside of these clear zones are permitted for us to mount our equipment. The new equipment ALWAYS needs to comply with the clearance requirements listed above.

Existing services that come into the default working clearance of gas meters will be grandfathered in with the utility, so there will be no need to flag this unless utility requirements explicitly say so.

OBJECTS IN FRONT OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

give extra attention around A/C and other mechanical units, debris, shelving and other obstructions. These objects should not be obstructing the needed working clearance:

Do not plan to mount equipment directly behind a mechanical unit.
Look for viable areas on either side of these mechanical units.
If the existing service is fully obstructed by a mechanical unit or other permanent obstruction, Flag for PER Escalation.

STAIRS

Electrical equipment should never be mounted directly over stairs. This is most often seen on decks and flood platforms.

You may install over an even grade like a deck or flood platform, however, you should never install electrical equipment over or under a stairway associated with such platforms.

If you see any permanent violation of working clearance, Flag for PER Escalation.

BATHROOMS AND CLOSETS

Indoor electrical panels should never be located:

In bathrooms
In a closet

INDOOR METERS

Meters should never be located in an enclosed space behind a door with a locking mechanism:

All meters must be fully accessible by the utility.

LOCKABLE GATES & FENCES

Gates and fences can sometimes be a similar issue. If the gate has a lock on it, the utility could require that you relocate the existing meter to be accessible. Most of the time, however, this will be grandfathered in. However, this will add special considerations for the new PV wall equipment.

In this photo, the fence is barely visible in the photo. You need to determine if the equipment is behind or in front of this fence on the property early on in the planning process.

NON-PERMINENT OBSTRUCTIONS - HOMEOWNER OBLIGATIONS

Should we be concerned about the obstructions in front of the equipment on the left?

SHRUBS, BUSHES & OTHER VEGITATION

Another very common clearance issue is overgrowth in front of existing electrical equipment.

And is the customers responsibility to address.

2 | BREAKERS

2020 NEC SERVICE DISCONNECT REQUIREMENTS

The 2020 edition of the NEC introduced some new requirements regarding service disconnects. Not all jurisdictions using the 2020/2023 will require us to upgrade older services but some of them might, so it is important to know the updated code specifics regarding services.

Below are the new articles and updates from the 2020 text.

(2020 NEC) 230.85 Emergency Disconnects:

For one- and two-family dwelling units, all service conductors shall terminate in disconnecting means having a short-circuit current rating equal to or greater than the available fault current, installed in a readily accessible outdoor location. If more than one disconnect is provided, they shall be grouped.

2017 NEC and prior:

There was previously no requirement for there to be an accessible emergency disconnecting means outdoors. In many older markets such as Virginia, Oregon, South Carolina, etc., you will often see "stand alone" meters, meaning that the main disconnect/MSP is indoors somewhere which was allowed in older versions of the code and may be allowed to be grandfathered in depending on the jurisdiction.

The principle difference is that the 2020 NEC requires an outdoor accessible emergency service disconnect.

(2020 NEC) 230.71(B) Maximum Number of Disconnects:

Two to Six Service Disconnecting Means. Two to six service disconnects shall be permitted for each service permitted by 230.2 or for each set of service-entrance conductors permitted by 230.40, Exception No. 1, 3, 4, or 5. The two to six service disconnecting means shall be permitted to consist of a combination of any of the following:

(1) Separate enclosures with a main service disconnecting means in each enclosure

(2) Panelboards with a main service disconnecting means in each panelboard enclosure

(3) Switchboard(s) where there is only one service disconnect in each separate vertical section where there are barriers separating each vertical section

(4) Service disconnects in switchgear or metering centers where each disconnect is located in a separate compartment

Essentially, this is saying, we may have up to 6 service disconnects. Service disconnects are main disconnects that are located between a power source (utility, PV, Customer owned generator, etc.) and loads being serviced by this source (typical branch circuits like lights, laundry, appliances, etc. that are attached to load side branch breakers.)

2017 NEC and prior:

A residence was still only allowed up to 6 service disconnects, however, it used to be allowed to have all 6 service disconnects in a single enclosure.

The principle difference is that the 2020 NEC requires each service disconnect to be in a separate enclosure with only one main service disconnect per enclosure.

230.67 Surge Protection:

(A) Surge-Protective Device. All services supplying dwelling units shall be provided with a surge-protective device (SPD).

(B) Location. The SPD shall be an integral part of the service equipment or shall be located immediately adjacent thereto.

Exception: The SPD shall not be required to be located in the service equipment as required in (B) if located at each next level distribution equipment downstream toward the load.

(D) Replacement. Where service equipment is replaced, all of the requirements of this section shall apply.

2017 NEC and prior: This is another service requirement that did not exist prior to the 2020 NEC.

The principle difference is that the 2020 NEC requires each service to be equipped with an SPD.

BREAKER HOLD DOWN KITS

Occasionally, you may see a typical plug-in type branch breaker acting as a main breaker for a load center. This is called a backfed main breaker. There are some additional rules to be aware of for this tpe of set up:

408.36 Overcurrent Protection:

In addition to the requirement of 408.30, a panelboard shall be protected by an overcurrent protective device having a rating not greater than that of the panelboard. This overcurrent protective device shall be located within or at any point on the supply side of the panelboard.

(D) Back-Fed Devices

Plug-in-type overcurrent protection devices or plug-in type main lug assemblies that are backfed and used to terminate field-installed ungrounded supply conductors shall be secured in place by an additional fastener that requires other than a pull to release the device from the mounting means on the panel.

Essentially, when a plug in type breaker is used as a main service disconnect, we need to ensure that there is a mechanical hold down, also called a retaining kit, that is attaching the breaker to the enclosure. Note this does not apply to main disconnects on the load side of the main service disconnect such as a sub panel main breaker.

EATON BR

For BR type breakers, this will usually be a retaining screw.

Note that it is considered a code violation and/or equipment damage for holes to be drilled in other types of breakers to suit a retaining screw.

This should mainly be seen on BR type breakers with some older discontinued brands such as Challenger or Westinghouse

UPSIDE DOWN BREAKERS

Refers to breakers that are installed such that when the breaker is in the “on” position, the handle faces down.
This needs to be corrected prior to installation.

There are several breakers in this example that are upside down.

One of the service disconnects is upside down.
Three breakers on the lower bus are upside down.

NEMA RATINGS

Labels can also tell us the NEMA rating of the equipment. NEMA rating is an alphanumeric rating system used to designate the weather resistance of an enclosure.

NEMA 3 are rated as outdoor enclosures
Watch out for NEMA type 1 and 2 equipment outdoors: these are only approved for interior use.

UNDERSIZED WIRES

The main thing to be on the lookout for is undersized service conductors and feeders.

These conductors are sized to handle a specific current rating.
Most often, you won't be able to read the wire labeling to determine the size of the wire, so you will need to use your better judgement.

4 | SERVICES

For overhead services, the following clearance rules apply:

Weatherheads coming up through the roof need a minimum 24” clearance above the roof.
Max run over the roof surface is 48”
In residential walking areas, the overhead clearance must be maintained at 10.5’
12’ clearance required over public walkways
18’ clearance required over public streets

If you notice that the service riser does not appear to meet these requirements, Flag for PER Escalation

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