Overhead service

[Fishplate]

I'm planning to replace an overhead service conductor to a commercial building. The service currently comes in to the side of the building that the service entrance is on. We need to bring the overhead feeder in from the other side now, over the roof of the building.

I understand that the clearance between the roof and the feeder needs to be at least 8 feet. Given that, I would need a mast with weatherhead at least that tall, plus enough length to fasten securely to the wall. Probably at least 12 feet, 16 feet (meaning 11 feet above the parapet) might be better to allow for slack in the line.

Is this a practical solution? Is there something I'm not considering?

TIA...

 

[awdblazer]

can you pipe it around the building? I know most pocos is the closest to the pole is all they would provide

 

[rockwithjason]

You need to have a sit down with your utility and find out what they will allow. In general, stringing service conductors over the roof will be frowned upon.

 

[malibu101]

You need to have a sit down with your utility and find out what they will allow. In general, stringing service conductors over the roof will be frowned upon.

Yeah, great advice.

YOU don't make or interpret the rules.
The utility company TELLS you what they will do for you.

My utilty has specific guidelines online showing their requirements for various types of services. Do what they tell you or they don't connect you.
Most times they will try to work with you, within their guidelines.

 

[Norcal]

You need to have a sit down with your utility and find out what they will allow. In general, stringing service conductors over the roof will be frowned upon.

Yeah, great advice.

YOU don't make or interpret the rules.
The utility company TELLS you what they will do for you.

My utilty has specific guidelines online showing their requirements for various types of services. Do what they tell you or they don't connect you.
Most times they will try to work with you, within their guidelines.

As said above you will have to discuss this with your PoCo, they make the rules you have to follow them.

 

[Aceman]

Most utility companies have an online "service requirements" manual you can look at. It'll have diagrams and clearances to follow.

 

[Mustang51js]

I would just pipe it around the building,there's no way you will be able to go that high over the parapet without building something to support everything. I know 24 inches above the roof line is usually the most you can go. You might be able to get poco to add a pole closer to where you want to connect. Or put a main breaker where it comes in now and pipe over to new panel location.

 

[Fishplate]

Thanks for the replies. But, as this is an industrial setting, we are a long way from the meter, and the utility is not involved.

If I had my way, I'd run it underground. My second choice would be to run it in conduit around the building. But, since this building is on the "eventual demolition" list, nobody wants to spend a lot of money on it. Being the facility engineer, it's up to me to find the cheapest acceptable solution.

Looking at the NEC, the only section I find that addresses it says 8' clearance over the roof or within 3' of the edge.

We are building a new structure beyond this one. I may be able to convince the architect to specify underground to it (needed for essential service), and we may be able to add another drop in the same trench for the existing structure. But that would be tricky since it would be two different construction contracts.

Is it obvious that I work for the Government?

 

[Mustang51js]

You can run it over the roof but you need a way to support the pipe sticking up that high over the parapet, that's what I meant with the 24 inches,anything higher than that you need support cables and have to worry about the pipe bending. So if you could build something to support pipe and wire connection I don't see why there would be any issues. You do need to get the local code from power company because they sometimes want different heights than in the code book.