I have a situation where there is one building (a strip mall)The contractor has ran 3 underground laterals from the transformer to 3 different meter banks, total of 9 meters and 9 disconnects. 230.2 requires those laterals to be considered as one service supply. Contractor says 230.40 exception #2 allows him to have up to 6 disconnects per lateral. I disagree. In trying to keep this as brief as I can. 230.71(A)does not allow more than 6 disconnects per service allowed by 230.2, If what he is saying is true then wouldn't exception 2 be included in 230.71? John

John,

Seems like the key article for your question is 230.71, which allows up to 6 disconnects for:

each service permitted by 230.2

-or-

each set of service conductors permitted by 230.40 exceptions 1,3,4 or 5. If he is relying on exception #2 to support his stance, then that one is not listed as a possibility in 230.71.


I would normally ask a bunch of question at this point, like how large are these services, why wasn't this caught on electrical plan review if in fact it is a violation, etc., etc.

Art. 240 exception 2 does not apply here. 2-6 disconnects in SEPARATE enclosures grouped together so this also leaves out 230.2.
So now comes 230.40 exception 1. So I can have 1 set of SE conductors run to each occupancy or group of occupancies.I can have up to 6 disconnects per occupancy per 230.71 (A). It now all boils down to definition of the wire running from the transformer to each enclosure.If there service laterals we've created more then one service if there underground service entrance conductors then it's one service and he's OK 3 SE conductors run to 3 groups of occupancies.If there were FIREWALL as per FBC making separate buildings then we could have service laterals run to each location.It's a confusing article to say the least.

No fire walls. One building, No plans submmitted. I can't tell you why it ever got this far along. The three laterals are considered as one service for this building. I say six disconnects max. Am I wrong?

John you didn't read my post clearly. 3laterals are not one service except per 230.40 ex. 2 and you do not have an exception 2 here. Like I said if you have 3 underground SE conductors going to 3 banks in a multi occupancy building they are fine.

How large is each service to each unit?

Approximately how long is the building (in feet) and how far away from each other are the meter banks?

I have to agree with Nick in that more information is needed as to the building, service equipment locations, and equipment installation to provide the correct answer.

ok,one lateral goes to a 6 gang meter bank,2nd lateral goes to another 6 gang meter bank, 3rd lateral goes to a single meter (house panel). each meter has a disconnect. they have 9 units ready to go and will have 12 toal when its finished plus a house panel. i dont know what the sq ft of the building is right now but the building does not qualify for more than one service. all meters and disconnects are grouped at one location. 1 600amp to each 6 gang and 1 200amp to house panel. silvertones, if 3 underground laterals are not considered one service then please help me understand 230.2

How large is each service to each unit?