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 21st 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
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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 6206(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
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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)
(b)
D- E3 101110 1
The panelboard is existing; and
The feeder is existing.
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Toll Free: 1-866-566-SAFE (7233) Fax: 778 396-2064 Web Site: www.safetyauthority.ca E-mail: info@safetyauthority.ca
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)
All panel covers must be installed while the equipment is energized.
(d)
Receptacles supplying temporary power for construction purposes must
comply with the requirements of Rule 76-016.
D- E3 101110 1
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Toll Free: 1-866-566-SAFE (7233) Fax: 778 396-2064 Web Site: www.safetyauthority.ca E-mail: info@safetyauthority.ca
3. Examples of acceptable temporary construction services are found in Diagrams #1 and
#2.
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505 SIXTH STREET, SUITE 200, NEW WESTMINSTER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA V3L 0E1
Toll Free: 1-866-566-SAFE (7233) Fax: 778 396-2064 Web Site: www.safetyauthority.ca E-mail: info@safetyauthority.ca
D- E3 101110 1
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505 SIXTH STREET, SUITE 200, NEW WESTMINSTER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA V3L 0E1
Toll Free: 1-866-566-SAFE (7233) Fax: 778 396-2064 Web Site: www.safetyauthority.ca E-mail: info@safetyauthority.ca
Stephen Hinde
Provincial Safety Manager - Electrical
References:
Bill 19 – 2003
Safety Standards Act
B.C. Reg. 105/2004
Safety Standards General Regulation
B.C. Reg. 100/2004
Electrical Safety Regulation
BC Hydro
Requirements for Secondary Voltage Revenue Metering
CSA Standard
C22.3 No 1, Overhead Systems
D- E3 101110 1
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505 SIXTH STREET, SUITE 200, NEW WESTMINSTER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA V3L 0E1
Toll Free: 1-866-566-SAFE (7233) Fax: 778 396-2064 Web Site: www.safetyauthority.ca E-mail: info@safetyauthority.ca