NEC & Tower Permits

[Gary Nieborsky]

This has always been a confusing point for a number of people.  Generally
the NEC jurisdiction stops at the revenue meter and the National Electric
Safety Code (NESC) governs beyond that.  The NESC has very clear rules for
the distance non-utility facilities must be away from utility lines.  The
absolute minimum is 10 ft and it goes up from there.  There are also a
number of situations that must be considered in determining this clearance;
voltage, temperature, and wind to name a few.  Section 810 blurs this line a
bit in that it is not clear exactly what facilities they are talking
about.....utility or customer.  I would err on the side of caution and
assume at a minimum that they are addressing the low voltage service wires
from your friendly local utility.

73 Gary K7FR


At 02:30 PM 2/10/97 -0600, you wrote:
>
>--Boundary-991060-0-0
>
>>>"Where proximity to open electric light or power service conductors 
>of less than 250 volts between conductors cannot be avoided, 
>the installation shall be such as to provide a clearance of at least  
>2 feet (610mm)."<< 
> 
>Maybe I'm wrong, but the way I read this is that his tower/antenna must be 
>installed at least two feet away from (clear of) the power lines.  I'd say 
>that's even way to close for comfort.  Clearance is not falling distance, it 
>is clearance or how far away the installation is.  And the clearance should be 
>much more for higher voltages.   
>If every city/county denied for such an interpretation, there would be no 
>towers in older neighborhoods at all.  Too many power lines to be clear of.  
>That, or only 6 ft towers would be allowed.  And with newer neighborhoods' 
>covenents....No towers at all! 
>
>
>
>--Boundary-991060-0-0
>X-Orcl-Content-Type: message/rfc822
>
>Received: 10 Feb 1997 12:59:08                    Sent: 10 Feb 1997 11:48:28
>From:"John Brosnahan " <owner-towertalk@paris.akorn.net>
>To: Chad,Kurszewski,WE9V,kurscj@oampc12.csg.mot.com
>Subject: Re: NEC & Tower Permits
>Cc: towertalk@contesting.com
>Reply-to: owner-towertalk@paris.akorn.net
>X-Orcl-Application: X-Authentication-Warning:  paris.akorn.net: majordom
set sender to owner-towertalk using -f
>X-Orcl-Application: X-Sender:  broz@teal.csn.net
>X-Orcl-Application: X-Mailer:  Windows Eudora Pro Version 2.1.2
>X-Orcl-Application: Mime-Version:  1.0
>X-Orcl-Application: Content-Type:  text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>X-Orcl-Application: Sender:  owner-towertalk@akorn.net
>X-Orcl-Application: Precedence:  bulk
>
>
>At 10:13 AM 2/10/97 -0600, you wrote:
>>I know it's a good idea, but did anyone ever have a tower permit denied
>>because it was within falling distance of electrical lines >250V?
>>
>>The local building inspector cites NEC 810-13, something that the tower
>>cannot be within falling distance + 2' of power lines.
>>
>>County zoning thinks it's okay if 2/3rds of your tower falls on the
>>neighbor's property, but the township doesn't want it near any power
>>lines.
>>
>>Again, yes, it's a good idea, but is it really "code"?  (I don't have
>>the NEC handy to determine if what his says is valid or correct.)
>
>
>Chad,
>
>Don't know what the spec is for >250 volts but for <250 volts it is
>the 2 ft mentioned in NEC  810-13.  Would have to assume that it
>is even greater for the higher voltages--so maybe you are getting
>off easy if your lines are >250 volts.
>
>"Where proximity to open electric light or power service conductors
>of less than 250 volts between conductors cannot be avoided,
>the installation shall be such as to provide a clearance of at least 
>2 feet (610mm)."
>
>gl es 73  John  W0UN
>
>
>
>--
>FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
>Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
>Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
>Problems:                 K7LXC@contesting.com
>Sponsored by Akorn Access, Inc & N4VJ / K4AAA
>
>
>--Boundary-991060-0-0--
>
>--
>FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
>Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
>Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
>Problems:                 K7LXC@contesting.com
>Sponsored by Akorn Access, Inc & N4VJ / K4AAA
>
>


--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 K7LXC@contesting.com
Sponsored by Akorn Access, Inc & N4VJ / K4AAA