Thanks all. The NEC reference 110.27 is helpful.
I am in a battle now with my AHJ building inspector which relates indirectly to
the 8' rule question. I have mounted several modules awning-style above a
window at an angle of 30 degrees. The bottom of the array is 7' from grade. The
inspector insists that this is a ground-mount array, even though it is mounted
on the wall of a habitable building. He cites NFPA 1, 2012 fire safety rules
which are adopted in my locale. In his brain, I must add a fence to insure no
one can touch the array within 10' per NFPA access guidelines for ground-mounts.
The NFPA does not cover wall-mounts specifically, if at all. It only defines
arrays on buildings (roof) and "real" ground mounts, i.e. mounted on a detached
structure.
The exposed PV wire enters a J-box roughly 10' above grade(behind the array),
more than complying with guidance in NEC 110.27. I am using this rule as backup
to my position that NFPA fire safety rules for ground mounts do not apply, and
the wire runs are protected accordingly per the NEC. IMO the intent of the NFPA
10' ground-mount rule is to protect the array and specifically wiring from
damage, which compliance with NEC 110.27 already does.
On 7/18/2020 4:01:34 AM, Martin Herzfeld <findso...@herzfeld.org> wrote:
Simply, the '2.5 m' (8 ft) has been inferred from Article 110.27(A)(4). It's
interesting now that the distance in the 2019 CEC/2017 NEC has increased based
on voltage. In other words, if the voltage is greater than 301 volts the
minimum would be 8 ft 6 in. :)
All the best,
Martin Herzfeld, Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) Certified Master
Trainer ™ for Photovoltaics (PV) Installation Professional #IREC 10037
Contract Training Provider (CTP)
Adjunct Professor, Energy
California Solar & Electrical Contractor License #00833782 C46, C10, D56,
D31, C-7
Solar, Electrical, Trenching, Pole Installation & Maintenance, Instrumentation
Contract Solar (PV) Technical Inspector - 3rd Party Inspections
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Certified PV Installer #17, OSHA 30
OSHA-Authorized Construction Trainer #32-0105338
CompTIA Certified Technical Classroom Trainer (CTT+) #T3NSZCNBBKB4QTQG
* Professional Member, International Association of Electrical Inspectors
#7035507 - Since 2006
* Accredited and Registered North American Board of Certified Energy
Practitioners (NABCEP) Continuing Education (CE) Training Provider
On Fri, Jul 17, 2020, 7:32 PM August Goers <aug...@luminalt.com
[mailto:aug...@luminalt.com]> wrote:
Hi Kirk - We work in San Francisco where they have a local code amendment:
[https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/san_francisco/latest/sf_building/0-0-0-84935]
300.4(I) Add the following section:
(I) Subject to Physical Damage. Premises wiring systems installed less than
2.44 m (8 feet) above a walking surface or finished floor are considered
subject to physical damage.
As far as I'm aware otherwise, there is not a specific definition specifying 8'
for physical damage in the broader NEC - I think it's just up to the AHJ.
August
Luminalt
On Fri, Jul 17, 2020 at 8:38 AM Kirk Herander <vtso...@icloud.com
[mailto:vtso...@icloud.com]> wrote:
All,
Is there a reference to this so-called "8-foot rule" that someone could point
me to in the NEC? Thanks.
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