NO: D-E3 101110 1 THIS DIRECTIVE SUPERSEDES DIRECTIVES D-E3 070302 5 & D-E3 070302 6 SERVICES - SERVICE EQUIPMENT- PANELBOARDS This Directive is being issued by a provincial safety manager pursuant to section 30 of the Safety Standards Act. Date of Issue: November 10, 2010 The following Directive provides guidance on the interpretation and application of issues pertaining to the appropriate rules of the 21 st Edition of the BC Electrical Code. Installers should consult with local authorities having jurisdiction, prior to undertaking work, to determine local requirements. A: Services (Supply or Consumer) to Low Buildings 1. Where a service mast is used, a suitable installation will: (a) Use a mast of sufficient height to provide clearances required by Rule 6-112(2); and (b) Have its mast located as close as practicable to a point opposite the service pole so that the requirements of Rule 6-116 will be met; and (c) In areas of heavy snowfall, where the mast is in the path of sliding snow from a sloping roof of smooth hard material such as plastic or metal, the mast must be securely braced or guyed back to a structural roof member or a snow break must be installed; and (d) See Appendix B Rule 6-112(4), for additional information regarding acceptable mast installations. 2. Service mast location should be confirmed with Supply Authority before commencing the installation. 3. Rules 54-604(1) and 60-510(1) require that a minimum clearance of 300 mm be maintained at the mast between the lowest service wire and communication service drop wires. The clearances required by Rule 6-112(2) also apply to communication services. Therefore the service wires must be high enough to permit the communication drops to maintain the minimum clearances above grade. NOTE: For clearance requirements at other than service masts, see CSA Standard C22.3 No. 1 D- E3 101110 1 Page 1 of 7
B: Location and Installation of Consumers Service Equipment and Conductors 1. Service equipment is required to be readily accessible, Rule 6-206(1)(b), and normally required to be within the building being served, Rule 6-206(1)(d). In addition to the option of the service equipment being located directly within the main occupancy structure the following are acceptable examples of within the building being served : an electrical closet with exterior access (see Part B, #2), a detached building or power shed on the property. Installers must confirm that structures are acceptable to the local authority having jurisdiction and that they meet local building code requirements. The local utility must be consulted regarding service location. For more information see the BC Hydro Requirements for Secondary Voltage Revenue Metering, which includes requirements for 400 A meter bases with integral CT s. http://www.bchydro.com/youraccount/content/forms.jsp. 2. Electrical service equipment and metering equipment may be installed in a service closet which is accessible only from outdoors. The occupancy panelboard with a disconnecting means shall be located elsewhere within the occupancy in accordance with the BC Electrical Code (see Rules 14-106 and 14-406). For closet installations the following shall apply in addition to any Building Code or local authority having jurisdiction requirements: (a) doors open which provide unimpeded front access to all equipment; (b) a one metre working space with a finished floor is provided as required by Rule 2-308 with the doors open; (c) headroom clearance is not less than two metres as required by Rule 6-206(1)(d) (d) that portion of the working space between the doors and the front face of the equipment is at least 450 mm; (e) an external roof is provided which projects one meter from a plane through the front of the equipment; (f) lighting is provided in accordance with Rule 2-314. (g) ventilation is provided in accordance with Rule 2-318. 3. Rule 6-208 requires consumer s service conductors to be outside the building except where necessary to connect to a service box, unless the risk of fire has been reduced by additional measures such as concrete encasement. In addition, Rule 6-206(1) (e) requires the consumer s service box to be located as close as practicable to the point where the consumer s service conductors enter the building. These restrictions are intended to reduce the risk of fire as service conductors lack effective overcurrent protection. Under these rules close as practicable is interpreted to mean that the length of cable or raceway containing consumer s service conductors must be kept as short as possible, without violating any other rules of the Code. It is recommended that D- E3 101110 1 Page 2 of 7
a cable or raceway containing consumer s service conductors be encased in concrete or buried where the cable or raceway is run inside a building (see Rule 6-208 (1)(a)(b)). Consumers Service conductors not encased in concrete, entering a building for connection to the service box, must not exceed 1.5 m in length, unless prior permission has been granted by the authority having jurisdiction. 4. A service mast that passes through the roof overhang for distances not greater than 1.5 m, and does not enter a wall, is considered to be outside the building. 5. Where metering, supplied from an overhead or underground supply, has been installed on a secondary pole and the consumer s service conductors are run overhead to a service or multiple services, the installation will be considered to be acceptable, for the purposes of Rule 6-310, if the connection to the overhead conductors is made using compression connectors applied with a compression tool and in compliance with Rule 14-100(g). C: Meters 1. In installations where the service is connected but the meter sockets are without meters, the safety requirements of Rules 2-200 and 2-300 will be fulfilled if: (a) Meter sockets are fitted with substantial covers to exclude the weather and protect against accidental contact; and (b) Where jumpers are permitted within the meter socket they must be approved for the purpose. 2. When terminating conductors to the lugs of a meter base, attention must be given to the amount of torque given to a particular meter lug when tightening. Specifications for recommended torque pressure is stated either in the manufacturer s specification sheet for the particular meter, or on the specification label mounted on the exterior or interior of a meter base. The torque pressure is stated in either foot lbs or foot inches of torque pressure. D: Location of Main Disconnect for Multi-unit Occupancies 1. 14-106 requires overcurrent devices to be readily accessible. Readily accessible is interpreted to be in the occupancy that the circuits serve. For multi-unit occupancies, main disconnecting means must be provided within the occupancy. This requirement is intended to improve safety by providing ready access to the disconnecting means controlling electrical equipment inside the occupancy. 2. Notwithstanding the requirements in section D 1 of this directive, a panelboard disconnecting means within an occupancy of a multi-unit building is not required if : (a) The panelboard is existing; and (b) The feeder is existing. D- E3 101110 1 Page 3 of 7
E: Panelboards in Secondary Suites 1. The requirements for panels in secondary suites are found in Rule 26-400. A suite or self contained unit in a new house must have its own panelboard which is independently supplied. In a newly constructed single dwelling only, a room or area which is common to all dwellings, and is readily accessible to all occupants is considered to be part of each dwelling. This means that a panelboard installed in a common room or area is in compliance with Rule 26-400. Consultation with the local building authority having jurisdiction is recommended before creating a secondary suite. 2. Rule 26-400 (1) exempts the requirement for a separate panel in a dwelling where a subdivision of a single dwelling results in a secondary suite and where the suite is not individually metered. F: Permanent Installation of Outdoor Services Rule 6-206(1)(d) requires that consumers service equipment be located indoors except where there is a deviation allowed in accordance with Rule 2-030. Service equipment can usually be located within a building on the premises. However, where there is no reasonable alternative, special permission must be requested for a permanent outdoor service prior to installation. Special permission may be granted, provided that: (a) (b) Equipment rated Type 3R for use outdoors is to be installed; and A pole, if utilized, on which the service equipment is mounted is in accordance with CSA Standard C22.3 No 1, Overhead Systems. G: Temporary Construction Installations 1. To comply with 76-002(4), a 150 mm x 150 mm (6" x 6") wooden timber with a gain mark and having suitable bracing, will be accepted for use in lieu of a class 6 pole. 2. Services intended for permanent installation which are connected in order to provide temporary power for construction purposes must be installed in accordance with the requirements of the BC Electrical Code, Section 76 and must be: (a) Protected from the weather and mechanical damage by, location or by installing the equipment within an enclosure which has been made weather proof; and (b) The equipment must be capable of being locked; and (c) (d) All panel covers must be installed while the equipment is energized. Receptacles supplying temporary power for construction purposes must comply with the requirements of Rule 76-016. D- E3 101110 1 Page 4 of 7
3. Examples of acceptable temporary construction services are found in Diagrams #1 and #2. D- E3 101110 1 Page 5 of 7
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Stephen Hinde Provincial Safety Manager - Electrical References: Bill 19 2003 B.C. Reg. 105/2004 B.C. Reg. 100/2004 BC Hydro CSA Standard Safety Standards Act Safety Standards General Regulation Electrical Safety Regulation Requirements for Secondary Voltage Revenue Metering C22.3 No 1, Overhead Systems D- E3 101110 1 Page 7 of 7