Blocking an electric meter?

[ADSR]

We had a situation around here a couple of years ago, but it was with a gas meter reader. He was using binoculars to read a meter. He was standing in someone's front yard. The meter was under a bedroom window. There was a woman in the bedroom, looking out and seeing the meter reader. Hilarity ensued.

LOL, I bet that didn't go over well. I've had to use that line a few times with the meter readers. I used to lift houses and frame basements under them. As you can guess, the service on a rancher ends up being on the second floor.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Your fire department would have big issue with that.. keeps em from pulling the meter in a fire...

Yep... That is exactly what I was going to post...

FD needs access to the meter (or disconnect right next to it in some cases).


Why not cap / seal a drain somewhere inside that is closer?

 

[FullRaceMerc]

That looks like a Bozo no-no. Locally we have to have 5 feet clear in front of the meter & access to that space. FD inspects commercial shops around here periodically so they know what issues are in the buildings in advance. FD & PoCo have both gotten on us for having much smaller & easier to move items in front of our meters.

Do you use all of the floor drains? As mentioned above, could you abandon one, put a dollar plug into it, & place the tank nearby?

 

[driftpin]

Some government info:
http://www.compliance.gov/sites/def...s/2010/03/fastfacts_electricalpanelaccess.pdf

The National Electrical Code (NFPA 70 110.26) requires a minimum of three feet of clearance for all electrical equipment serving 600 volts or less.

Any changes in NFPA 70 depend on what edition your AHJ has adopted.

 

[nsula_country]

Bad idea!

CT

 

[PelicanPines]

Not for nothing but ... do you really have to ASK... if it's OK to block a meter. What part of dumb move did they teach this boss who decided it was ok.

This is why we need rules spelled out for those without any internal... well jeeze this is STUPID.

 

[smittyjones]

Because he doesn't want to walk that far....

Ya, that's it - call OSHA or the EPA. Your boss would never know it was you.. lmao

Not just walk that far, but it's walking that far outside with a tank with 2" casters over broken rocky concrete. And the air hose barely reaches. And 2 guys don't have self evacuating drains, so they have to pick them up to drain it and fight that stupid vent above it. Someone spilled oil everywhere this morning.

That thing above the tank, is that a heating unit? If so wouldn't the heating unit post a serious fire threat?

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

It's just a vent from the paint mixing room.

Been away from it for too long but it's not that it can't be near the drains. It just can't be near the drains without secondary containment to prevent oil from getting into the drains.

If your oil did find its way into a drain or a waterway, that constitutes illegal disposal and the fines can easily be on the order of what your boss said. Makes no difference that the tank is in good shape. It must have secondary containment.

Even where your boss put the tank will be bad news for your company if there is a leak and the EPA gets involved. In that case your company will be paying fines and cleaning up soil.

DC

So on that note, our drains don't drain either. They've known about this for years, but instead of fixing anything we got a dirty water sump pump and pump it out into the back lot. Pretty sure that's illegal too, right? There's also no secondary containment outside. So if it leaked inside or out, it was ending up flowing through the parking lot. But now it's sitting outside where it's not protected and will be more prone to leaking. At least it's on the south side of the building so it'll be mostly protected from UV rays until winter!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

sounds like this shop owner needs to be assessed some fines to motivate him to do the right thing.

Lazyiness and penny pinching never pays...

"penny-wise and pound foolish"