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Service Equipment Location for Dock, Floating Building or Marina per NEC 555

jar546

CBO
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Oct 16, 2009
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Not where I really want to be
The Code Reads (NEC 2023):
555.4 Location of Service Equipment.
The service equipment for a floating building, dock, or marina shall be located on land no closer than 1.5 m (5 ft) horizontally from and adjacent to the structure served, but not on or in the structure itself or any other floating structure. Service equipment shall be elevated a minimum of 300 mm (12 in.) above the electrical datum plane.

What it Means:
This requirement ensures that supply conductors to a floating building, dock, or pier can be disconnected in an emergency, such as during a storm, when the floating structure has to be moved quickly. Service equipment is not permitted to be installed on the floating building and any other floating structure, such as a pier, and is now subject to horizontal clearances from these structures.

Additionally, minimum elevation requirements above the electrical datum plane provide clearances above normally experienced high-water levels, as covered by the definition of electrical datum plane in Article 100. This requirement applies only to equipment that is covered by the definition of service equipment. A minimum elevation requirement above docks and piers for other electrical equipment, not meeting the definition of service equipment, is covered by the requirements of 555.30(A).

100 Electrical Datum Plane.​

A specified vertical distance above the normal high-water level at which electrical equipment can be installed and electrical connections can be made. (CMP-7)
 
Jeff, Any thoughts on why some pool bonding stuff is "greater than 5'" and this is "no closer than 5'" or just that they need to correlate the language better? Thank God I have electrical people and no marinas..
 
Jeff, Any thoughts on why some pool bonding stuff is "greater than 5'" and this is "no closer than 5'" or just that they need to correlate the language better? Thank God I have electrical people and no marinas..
Sounds like a different thread should be started to ask that question. #threaddrift
 
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