overhead service drop height

[William T. Misegades]

Hey guys,
When did the overhead service drop height rule come into effect?
I noted the service drop conductors that were well under 10 feet above a walkway on a 50 year old home and the seller (who happens to be a lawyer) rebuked that and said this is ok because it is grand fathered in... I don't want to debate about inspecting according to today's standards or when my city specifically adopted this rule or even the safety issue at steak in this instance. I just want to know when it was first written in any of the code books. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Call your POCO as they decide what they want for their Service Drop in any given area. The code is just a nuisance/suggestion to them that they care nothing about.

[Gerald L. Coy]

If you think this is a safety issue report it as same. Don't get involved in a calling it a code violation you'll lose that argument. Remember building and electrical codes are the minimum acceptable requirements. If your standards are higher than the minimum acceptable years ago state it as such!

[William T. Misegades]

Guys, thanks for your input and really, I do appreciate it. Sometimes, all people want is formation. I inspect house to today's standards and write that in the report, so the seller knows about that. I did not ask this questions to get into a debate of how to inspect or how to report things, thus the reason why i posted the question the way I did. I would just like to know when the height for the service feeder was originally written up so that next time, I can simply give that info directly when questioned (on top of the fact that it is a safety hazard matter when the code was adopted).
Jeff, I'll give the POCO a call next week and post their answer.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Will, I understood exactly your question and reasoning behind asking it as written. You need to understand that you are about to get yourself in a heep of potential trouble with the Seller/Lawyer! DO NOT play into his game. Offering any CODE FACT (which is impossible to determine for grandfathering purposes in your situation) is a very bad idea, and will open up every comment you make to his interpretation and approval. Prepare your comments as you always do, and let HIM deal with the POCO and AHJ!

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Some wise advice from jjonas on this one. The height if "service drop" conductors is a NESC rule for the POCO and not the NEC as you have presented it. Note it, advise them to contact the POCO for clarity and move on.

[William T. Misegades]

Mike, thanks for that link. And your last comment was what I was also thinking.
Jeff I know you know and you know I value your answers and your answer on post#2 was good info.
Paul, thanks for your answer which confirmed Jeff's post#2.
So now I have a question. I presented 10' rule because that's what is in the IRC, NEC, not knowing the NESC would be any different.
Why would the NEC and IRC give a rule for vertical clearance above grade, if that same rule didn't apply to NESC which is the body that governs the service drop requirements?

[Robert Meier]

The utility company might have the same requirements as the ones outlined in the NEC but the NEC likely doesn't apply to the service drop. Basically it comes down to who you would look to for correction of the issue. From the 2011 NEC:

90.2 Scope.
(B) Not Covered. This Code does not cover the following:
(1) Installations in ships, watercraft other than floating build-
ings, railway rolling stock, aircraft, or automotive vehicles
other than mobile homes and recreational vehicles
Informational Note: Although the scope of this Code in-
dicates that the Code does not cover installations in ships,
portions of this Code are incorporated by reference into
Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 110–113.
(2) Installations underground in mines and self-propelled
mobile surface mining machinery and its attendant
electrical trailing cable
(3) Installations of railways for generation, transformation,
transmission, or distribution of power used exclusively
for operation of rolling stock or installations used ex-
clusively for signaling and communications purposes
(4) Installations of communications equipment under the
exclusive control of communications utilities located
outdoors or in building spaces used exclusively for
such installations
(5) Installations under the exclusive control of an electric
utility where such installations
a. Consist of service drops or service laterals, and as-
sociated metering,