• Welcome to the new and improved Building Code Forum. We appreciate you being here and hope that you are getting the information that you need concerning all codes of the building trades. This is a free forum to the public due to the generosity of the Sawhorses, Corporate Supporters and Supporters who have upgraded their accounts. If you would like to have improved access to the forum please upgrade to Sawhorse by first logging in then clicking here: Upgrades

Detached garage

K

knockadse

Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2009
Messages
13
Location
Missouri
I inspected a detached garage today which had 2-15 amp circuits underground in rigid non-metallic conduit from the house to the garage (no sub panel located in garage).

I know that a single branch circuit can be run to a detached garage without requiring a grounding electrode in accordance with 250.32.

Is it possible that the electrician could tie the two breakers together and count it as a multi-wire branch circuit?

If no, and the circuit cannot be reduced to a single branch circuit, a subpanel would need to be installed in the garage and a GE would have to be installed. Correct :?:

Thanks for the help in advance.

Adam
 
Re: Detached garage

Here is part of the commentary following 250.32 in the 08 NECHB.

Where a building is supplied by a single branch circuit (2-wire or multiwire) and is installed in or has a wire-type equipment grounding conductor, as covered in 250.118, it is not required to establish a grounding electrode system or connect to an existing one.
Click to expand...
 
Re: Detached garage

To go along with what Chris Kennedy has posted, how many neutral conductors are run with the 2 15 amp circuits?

If there is only one neutral shared by the 2 circuits then this would be a multiwire branch circuit and the exception to 250.32(A) would apply and a grounding electrode would not be needed.

Chris
 
Re: Detached garage

The conduit has two hot conductors, two neutral conductors, and one grounding conductor.
 
Re: Detached garage

knockadse said:
The conduit has two hot conductors, two neutral conductors, and one grounding conductor.
Click to expand...
Then that would not be a multiwire branch circuit and therefore would be considered 2 circuits.

225.30 does not permit more than one branch circuit or feeder to supply a detached garage.

Chris
 
Re: Detached garage

Sounds like 2 circuits to me. A sub-panel would need to be installed and connected to a grounding electrode, existing or one installed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top