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Topic:   Overhead line - 2363 visits (1 today, 1 this week)

Eric Barker
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From:Lake Barrington, IL
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posted January 26, 2006 07:16 PM            

Seems this slipped by the cracker jack Chicago inspectors. New construction, four floor steel and masonry condo building.

What main issue do you see?

Click for photo (57649 Bytes)

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Eric Barker
Lake Barrington, IL

Tony Keith
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From:Aurora, IL
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posted January 26, 2006 07:36 PM            

Eric, good picture. I guess this is what happens when you put 10 lbs in a 5 lb bag. The conductors must be kept 3 ft from the balconies. What a mess. Metal balconies, metal railings, metal posts........... what a mess.

Eric Barker
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posted January 26, 2006 07:44 PM            

Tony, The clearance was my initial concern. Actually, I didn't catch the second issue until I got home and printed the picture. So far the guys over on the ASHI forum are stumped over this. I still have to revise the report for the client. Just looking for feedback and thoughts.

Tony Keith
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From:Aurora, IL
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posted January 26, 2006 07:51 PM            

That is a potential death trap. I can't believe the boys in cook county would allow that. There should be a wooden pole for the overhead to attach to, and for the service to run down until ocpd is available. what a mess

Corey Friedman
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From:Chicago IL
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posted January 26, 2006 10:18 PM            

Hello Eric and Tony,

Based on the photo it looks like it does comply with Chicago & Com Ed requirements.

The clearance to a balcony is 5'not 3 feet. That is for horizontal reach from the balcony. This looks like it is not within that reach.

I looked through the Com Ed service requirements manual (all 194 pages) and could not find anything that prohibits this installation.

Sincerely,

Corey Friedman

[This message has been edited by Corey Friedman (edited January 27, 2006).]

Tony Keith
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posted January 27, 2006 05:59 AM            

Corey thanks, you should come around more often. Shed a bit more light here for me if you don't mind.

I stated a rule from the NEC '02 article 230.9(A) Overhead service conductors shall maintain a clearance of 3' from windows.....porches, balconies, fire escapes....

My com-ed red book, for overhead service cable clearance, requires a horizontal clearance from windows, porches, balconies, fire escapes....at 5', it also requires 11' of clearance above or below balconies and roofs accessible to pedistrians. I see this installation violating those two rules. However, I could be interpreting the rules incorrectly.

Eric Barker
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posted January 27, 2006 06:34 AM            

Clearance is ok? It's well withing reach of the deck - though below.

The other issue I was concerned with was that the neutral line has direct contact with the steel structure. Don't you want to keep such bonding restricted to the service panel or meter? This connection would not allow for a dedicated path back to the transformer - right?

Corey Friedman
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From:Chicago IL
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posted January 27, 2006 08:29 PM            

Hi Eric,

There is no problem with the service and attachment connected to the steel. It is no different than when a meter and mast is attached to aluminum siding.

The bonding jumper will allow a ground fault to clear and will not energize the porch.

This simply isn't an issue.

Sincerely,

Corey

Eric Barker
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posted January 28, 2006 05:11 AM            

Corey - Thanks.

Damn electricity! I burn out too many brain cells trying to process this stuff.

Makes me want to go back to just the basics - "This is a fuse, this is a breaker......"

Jeff G. Hooper
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posted January 28, 2006 06:22 AM            

You have got to be kidding me.

If they are allowing that, and it seems they are, someone is interpreting code wrong.

"Well if we can't kill-em by collapsing decks in Chicago, we'll just electrocute em."

[This message has been edited by Jeff G. Hooper (edited January 28, 2006).]

Bill Wieczorek
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posted January 28, 2006 09:15 AM            

Corry:
Where did you find the copy of the the Com Ed service book, I'd like to get one.

Tony Keith
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posted January 28, 2006 04:44 PM            

Well, I'm not sure that I would compare this installation to one on aluminum siding. There is no logical way to bond aluminum siding, unless you bond each and every different piece to prevent the siding system from becoming energized.

This installation would need 02 NEC Article 250.4(A)(4) Bonding of Electrically Conductive Materials and Other Equipment.... Electrically conductive materials likely to become energized to be connected to the electrical supply source in a manner that establishes an effective ground-fault current path.

I hope at the very least, this rule was followed.