I would give a small amount of additional time to convince the inspector. After that I would build the fence he wants. I would also build it to be easily dismantled/removed. Good Luck!
Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar "we go where powerlines don't" http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/ [1] e-mail [email protected] [2] text 209 813 0060 On Sat, 18 Jul 2020 10:05:49 -0400, Kirk Herander wrote: 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 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 (tm) 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 border-left: 1px #ccc solid; padding-left: 1ex;"> Hi Kirk - We work in San Francisco where they have a local code amendment: [4] 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 wrote: All, Is there a reference to this so-called "8-foot rule" that someone could point me to in the NEC? Thanks. _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: [email protected] [6] Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org [7] List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org [8] List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm [9] Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org [10] _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: [email protected] [11] Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org [12] List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org [13] List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm [14] Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org [15] _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: [email protected] Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org Links: ------ [1] http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/ [2] mailto:[email protected] [3] mailto:[email protected] [4] https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/san_francisco/latest/sf_building/0-0-0-84935 [5] mailto:[email protected] [6] mailto:[email protected] [7] http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org [8] http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org [9] http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm [10] http://www.members.re-wrenches.org [11] mailto:[email protected] [12] http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org [13] http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org [14] http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm [15] http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
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