romexrocket

I have a set of plans for 10 buildings 8 units in each. The GC has no specs on the services just floor plans. He claims he can put 100 A services in each, but I explained thats cutiing it close. I did a load calc it comes to 115 amps in each unit. I d love to see him accept 150a but feel he is gonna wanna squeak 125s in each. The service can be done 2 ways:

1. 9 Gang meterbase with Mains and subfeed ser to each unit, but then I run into a problem with the 6 motions of the wrist deal to disconnect power to the building, solution would be a 1200 A switchgear Priceeeee

2. If I could get the local Inspector to accept 4 gang meter on left and right sides of each building. Would he look at that as 4 motions?
plus this would help with the cost of that main switchgear or even more so I wouldnt have to penetrate any fire walls to feed each unit leftside 2 on bottom 2 on top.

Any input would be greatly appreciated this is my first bid on a project this size, and man I need this job to get through this slump right now.

Would this be a job for an Electrical Engineer?

kbsparky

Some areas allow each occupancy to have its own "service" since each one has its own meter [230.2(D)] Each one of these "services" is allowed to have up to 6 disconnecting means [230.71(A)].

You should ask your local inspector-critter if (s)he accepts that premise before submitting your bid. Otherwise, you might have to eat the cost for that "Main" breaker for the meter stack assembly.

MDShunk

If these multitennant buildings have a footer to roof fire wall down the middle, they might buy off on putting a 4-gang on each end. With the presence of a fire wall, I've often successfully made the case that this is really two buildings, but they touch and share a common wall.

__________________
One reason not to give DIY advice:
Catch a man a fish and you can sell it to him.
Teach a man to fish and you’ve ruined a good business opportunity.

romexrocket

they acually do between the front and back units and also the 4 on the left are seperated from the 4 on the right by a breezway

MDShunk

I'd sure give it a shot. See if you can get someone official to give you the go-ahead to put a meter stack on each end since the place is built that way. I have a customer that's a really super long 1-story motel. The place must be every bit of 1,000 feet long. The power hits that building in 3 places (each end and the middle).

__________________
One reason not to give DIY advice:
Catch a man a fish and you can sell it to him.
Teach a man to fish and you’ve ruined a good business opportunity.

romexrocket

im gonna go down their in the morning and talk to the chief.Ill let you know the verdict thanks for all of you input

idoelectric

You may need to get this designed by an electrical engineer. In my area, contractors must have electrical designed and sealed by electrical engineer for any electrical installs above 200 amp service. This method takes the liability and responsibilty of an incorrect design off the shoulders of the installer and places it on the engineer. As one of my inspectors put it "The sheepskin outways the cardboard in court."