FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO

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Morgan Lamb
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1 Our Goal is FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT with us and that together we keep people and structures safe and buildings economically viable to serve the needs of our community. We strive for: EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE! and QUALITY INSPECTIONS! April 12th, 2017 ELECTRICAL CONSISTENCY MEETING OUR NEXT MEETING is May 10 th

2 l. Customer Service Tips a) Answer the phone; live is best but at least have a recorded message to let the customer have some expectations. b) Listen to the customer; listen attentively, we need to understand their needs and expectations to be successful. c) Focus on the positive; don t start the conversation negatively, if they do calmly diffuse it and move to a positive. Assure them you are there to help them move forward safely and successfully. d) If the customer has a complaint, assure them we are interested and will handle it as best and quickly as possible. Involve your support as needed and inform your customer. e) Always have your mind set on being helpful and accessible. Always be polite and respectful. When the rare case arises and you can t help them help themselves disengage and inform your manager.

3 ll. Consistency Questions 1. Does an ungrounded PV system require a grounding electrode system or interconnection to the premises grounding electrode system? If so, what code references support the requirement? Yes, a grounding electrode system is required and must be bonded to the ac grounding electrode system. See (A), (B), and (C), (ungrounded system), (grounded system)

7 2. A receptacle outlet is installed in a dwelling kitchen for the refrigerator & is within 6-feet of the kitchen sink. Does the receptacle outlet need to be GFCI protected? Yes, see A 7 of the NEC, but NO per NCEC A 7 if it is not serving the countertop (A6). 3. I installed a 20-amp duplex receptacle fed with a 20-amp multi-wire branch circuit. Each half of the duplex receptacle will have a 16-amp load for a total on the duplex of 32 amps. Is each half of the duplex receptacle rated 20 amps, or is the rating for the entire duplex receptacle? The inspector turned me down. We re not sure what the turn down was. Per UL 498 each receptacle is rated 20 amps, so that would not be the issue. This complies with

8 B, so again no issue. If you complied with and we don t see an issue. 4. I was turned down for not having the correct disconnect means for gas dispensers on my job. I had the E stops in and had the neutrals included on the breakers with lockouts for maintenance. What else is needed? From what info we have in the question it seems you may have neglected to account for the communications, data and video requirements. All disconnect requirements can be found in and.13 of the NCEC. 5. I have seen the intersystem bonding block used as a tap for the grounding electrode conductors. Is this listed for that purpose? My understanding is a block is only allowed for services with multiple disconnects and I am not

9 sure these units are considered bus-bars as (D)(1) states. No. The intersystem bonding termination is listed for grounding and bonding, but not as a splice or tap point for grounding electrode conductors. The intersystem bonding termination is for intersystem bonding conductor of other systems only. Code Reference: and B 6. I installed PVC conduits at a dispenser location beside the dispenser base. The inspector turned me down for not being 24 away. I think he was mistaken. The code only requires 24 of cover, not separation. Please clarify. For many years we have interpreted the cover to be required in all directions. Per the NCDOI/OSFM we were incorrect. The cover referred to by the code is only for vertical consideration.

10 We still strongly recommend that the 24 separation be maintained. PVC will not in itself contain an explosion and it is highly likely that the soil under the dispenser will have a mix of gas and vapors from small leaks over the time of service. This could create an unsafe condition. 7. I installed a surface mounted LED light in a clothes closet. It was 10 inches from the shelf. The inspector turned me down. I thought LED fixtures (luminaires) had the same clearances as fluorescents. What s required? LED luminaires do not have the same clearances in all cases as fluorescents in clothes closets. LED luminaires must be identified as suitable for installation within the closet storage space to be placed within 300 mm (12 in.) of the storage space. Code Reference: (A), (B), and (C)

11 8. As a rule, 4/0 Aluminum can be used for a two hundred amp 3 phase service even though it s rated for 180 amps, Article (3) allows the next larger size overcurrent protection (if less than 800). However, does it still apply to paralleled? Example two sets of 4/0 aluminum to feed a 400-amp service (separate raceways) would total 360 amps, next size up would be 400? Somewhere in the past I was taught when you paralleled you had to meet the full rating, (meaning you d have to use two sets of 250 Aluminum, for a total of 410 amps). I can t find that anywhere in the NEC. Am I remembering something that doesn t exist? Are two sets of 4/0 Aluminum okay for a 400amp service? B allows you to use the next standard size overcurrent device in this case (up to 800 amps). Your service would be limited to the load capability of the conductors which would be 360 amps not 400.

12 9. I have a project very like a recent project completed in another part of the county. At the prior location, we were required to complete an Industrial Machinery Declaration for some equipment there, and it was very cumbersome and confusing. Now at the new project we are being told we must go through the same process all over again. Is this going to have to be done again, this is exhaustive and no one can provide explanation on the process, the state has already ruled this is not needed. The process is as outlined on our web at meckpermit.com. This process was vetted by our attorney for compliance with the General Statutes. If you have difficulty with the process please resource your inspector, electrical supervisor or the electrical CA. The declaration will need to be made to exclude the equipment from our inspection. Per OSHA you still need to comply with having the equipment labeled by one of their recognized testing labs. The declaration we ask for allows you to bypass our

13 inspection and the enforcement becomes their responsibility and the owner s liability. 10. Are feeder SER cables installed into the top of meter enclosures located inside building electrical rooms of a multi-family structure required to be enclosed in drywall construction with at least a 15 min fire rating, in 3A and 5A buildings? How about in 1 and 2 type construction? B 4 refers us to 334 Part ll for this answer. NFPA and NCBC construction types differ. lll A and V A for NC are NFPA lll and V, type l and ll match. The types do not always directly match (2) allows the cables in multifamily dwellings lll, lv and V construction without enclosure. In other than dwellings cables must be concealed by a finish that has a 15-minute flash rating in lll, lv and V. Type l and ll buildings require the cables to be in raceways.

14 11. Can a GEC and an EGC be the same conductor, and if so, in what applications would this be compliant? Per Exception it could. On the primary of the transformer would be an example. 12. Are equipment grounding conductors required to be increased proportionately if the ungrounded conductors are increased due to ambient temperature de-rating concerns? B states that any increase in ungrounded conductors requires a proportional increase in the e.g. conductor. 13. On a single trade permit I have a 1 hr. wall with a low voltage cable through a PVC conduit sleeve and fire caulk installed inside the PVC sleeve. Is this a proper installation and how do we know, or this a Building Inspector concern?

15 The contractor will need to provide you a UL approved detail for the penetration if it is not shown on the approved plans. This should come from the project designer as a bulletin when plans are required for the project. 14. I have a job with high pile racking. It was originally permitted with no emergency lighting in the aisles. The fixtures are 2x4 LED high bays with individual occupancy sensors. The Electrical Contractor has gone back and installed battery-backup inverters for each fixture that will act as an emergency light. However, the occupancy sensors are still in play, so even in the event of a power outage, the lights do not come on until the Occ sensor is triggered. Is there a reference in the 2011 NEC that prohibits this? What about 2014?

16 Per NCDOI/OSFM, No. NCEC , 2012 NCBC & I am installing a 2400w 120v Insta hot water heater. I ran #12 wire and put it on a 20A breaker. My Inspector says that I can't fully load the circuit breaker, so I need to install a 25A breaker. Is this correct? I had another Inspector fail me on a similar install where I used #10 wire and a 30A breaker because he said the breaker was too large covers the circuit involved. Per the nameplate 2400w, 120v we have a 20-amp load. Since this unit is not a continuous load your installation was correct. 16. I've been running into several jobs where the contractor is installing a #6 bare copper

17 wire to the ground rod. Doesn't Mecklenburg require a #4 minimum? A allows a #6 and we will also. The issue is being subjected to physical damage. We have accepted an unprotected #4 solid in areas subjected to physical damage. 17. I'm running speaker wires in PVC conduit around a pool deck. My Inspector says I need to have the conduit at least 18" deep. Why? It's only speaker wires. First let s recognize that no underground other than what is necessary for pool equipment can be within 5 of the pool wall (680.10). Your question does not pinpoint your exact location of equipment and conduit(s). No outlets should be within 10 of the pool wall ( D). If the speakers are for underwater we need to comply with A. If the inspector

18 considered your system as a network powered broadband comm. system, then table C would apply. If that was not the case, then would apply. 18. Do we require breaker locks for water heaters if the panel is within sight of the water heater? does not require a lock when the breaker or switch is in sight. 19. My inspector turned me down for putting 2 wall sconces above the tub area in the master bathroom, she said they cannot be there, was she correct? What if I put them on a GFCI? A and D covers these sconces. Their position is the key. They may need to be damp or wet location rated and/or they may violate

19 other provisions such as chain suspended. Putting them on GFCI is a great idea. 20. Can an under counter wine cooler/mini fridge also be on the kitchen small appliance circuit? Or would 422/440 and or apply? Yes, no, maybe. For example, if the given appliance has a max ocp of 15 amps on the nameplate then no. It must be fused at 15 amps and the required 20-amp small appliance circuit would not work. Make a note on the rough inspection. 21. If I use an AFCI receptacle outlet for my dining receptacles, where should this device be installed if I have hit the kitchen small appl. and then to the dining? Can I put it at the first outlet in the dining where AFCI is required? Or

20 would it be required to be in the kitchen at the first outlet on the circuit? As stated in (A)(4)(c) it would be required at the first outlet on the circuit and must meet all requirements of (A)(4). 22) Is a zoning permit required to be on site for temporary power? A zoning permit is not a requirement for temporary power. 23) What is the minimum bonding conductor? What is maximum length? It depends on the particular application (A)(3) allows for 14 AWG, while (H) allows for 10 AWG. Also, the maximum length is regarding one and two family dwellings, where the bonding conductor

21 or grounding electrode conductor, shall be as short as practicable, not to exceed 20 in length. 24) I got questioned by one of our job foremen about ratings on PVC LB s. We had 2-4 LB s that we were going to use for 2 parallels of aluminums on a riser. He noticed inside the LB is was stamped 3-300MCM max. According to this you can t even use 4 with MCM copper for a 400 amp service anymore. I did some research and all that I could find was in a Mike Holt forum that said once you get over #6 wire, an LB is considered an angle pull box so you would have to have 24 between the conduit entrances. 4 LBs have 15 to 17 between them so that could explain the reduced wire capacity due to bending radius. I just checked a 2 LB and it says 3-3/0 max. If I understand this correctly

22 the only way to go through a wall now is either to use a vertical trough or a large pull box. Can you tell me how Mecklenburg County s interprets this please? I have always thought that an LB had the same capacity as the conduit as long as the conductors were not spliced in the LB. I had not seen this wire rating inside of the LB until recently. Conduit bodies fall under (2) and (3), in your particular application. The manufacturer is required to mark the max. size conductors per (3). That section is new to the 2014 NEC. Unfortunately, you are confined to the maximum wire size listed on the conduit body. In most cases the only alternatives are to provide a trough or an oversized LB. In any case we want to be sure we have sufficient wire bending space and do not damage the conductors.

23 25) Can we partially approve residential projects? That is not our common practice, however it is sometimes allowed with approval from the residential supervisor or manager. 26) Is the neutral service conductor required to be insulated? I was turned down for using a bare aluminum conductor in a PVC nipple between a meter can and a 200A panel feeding a residence. What gives? The question seems simple but it takes a lot of digging. Look at ; Part II. Overhead Service Conductors Insulation or Covering. Individual conductors shall be insulated or covered. Exception: The grounded conductor of a multiconductor cable shall be permitted to be bare.

24 Look at ; Part III. Underground Service Conductors Installation. (A) Insulation. Underground service conductors shall be insulated for the applied voltage. Exception: A grounded conductor shall be permitted to be uninsulated as follows: (1) Bare copper used in a raceway (2) Bare copper for direct burial where bare copper is approved for the soil conditions (3) Bare copper for direct burial without regard to soil conditions where part of a cable assembly identified for underground use (4) Aluminum or copper-clad aluminum without individual insulation or covering where part of a cable assembly identified for underground use in a raceway or for direct burial Look at ;

25 Part IV. Service-Entrance Conductors Insulation of Service-Entrance Conductors. Service entrance conductors entering or on the exterior of buildings or other structures shall be insulated. Exception: A grounded conductor shall be permitted to be uninsulated as follows: (1) Bare copper used in a raceway or part of a service cable assembly (2) Bare copper for direct burial where bare copper is approved for the soil conditions (3) Bare copper for direct burial without regard to soil conditions where part of a cable assembly identified for underground use (4) Aluminum or copper-clad aluminum without individual insulation or covering where part of a cable assembly or identified for underground use in a raceway, or for direct burial (5) Bare conductors used in an auxiliary gutter

Look at 310.106; Part III. Construction Specifications 310.106 Conductors. (D) Insulated.

26 Look at ; Part III. Construction Specifications Conductors. (D) Insulated. Conductors, not specifically permitted elsewhere in this Code to be covered or bare, shall be insulated. So in this question, a bare conductor is not allowed. lll. HAZ LOC Part 5

ELECTRICAL CONSISTENCY MEETING

ELECTRICAL CONSISTENCY MEETING Date: 10/14/2015 Our Goal is FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT with us and that together we keep people and structures safe and economically viable to serve