Service Drop Question

[Reece D. Welch]

Whenever I do a 4 point, insurance inspection, I note the service drop as a deficiency in need of repair if it is significantly less than 10' high. Usually, I'll only note it if it is about 9'.
My question is, "Is anyone else doing this?"
While I don't want to hurt the homeowner, If someone hit the drop with a ladder and it was found to be 9', instead of 10', I could be held liable.
Any thoughts?

[Robert J. OConnor]

The installation provisions for a utility service drop are typically the responsibility of the utility company, who have their own requirements. You can use model codes as a quide, but you may want to find out what the local utility company requirements are. After that it's a judgement call for an existing installation.

And I hope your not using a metal tape to measure the height, because the bare messenger (neutral) wire typically carries current ...

[Thomas R. Hession]

It's been my experience that service drops to residential dwellings start just below the transformer than slope down to the service mast. If it is less than ten feet than the homeowner is responsible for raising his service mast to the required height.

Please correct me if I am wrong...

Reece...ever have to go back to verify that the deficiency has been repaired?

[Reece D. Welch]

Originally Posted by thession

It's been my experience that service drops to residential dwellings start just below the transformer than slope down to the service mast. If it is less than ten feet than the homeowner is responsible for raising his service mast to the required height.

Please correct me if I am wrong...

Reece...ever have to go back to verify that the deficiency has been repaired?

Actually, I'm going back tomorrow to check the repair of a service drop that was about 4" above the peak of an outbuilding. The homeowner had the weatherhead raised.
I don't like going back for free.

[Reece D. Welch]

Originally Posted by roconnor

The installation provisions for a utility service drop are typically the responsibility of the utility company, who have their own requirements. You can use model codes as a quide, but you may want to find out what the local utility company requirements are. After that it's a judgement call for an existing installation.

And I hope your not using a metal tape to measure the height, because the bare messenger (neutral) wire typically carries current ...

Yes. Yes, I am using a metal tape measure. I have been VERY cautious. Do you have a better method?

[jtedesco3]

Use a nonmetallic measuring stick instead:

[jtedesco3]

Originally Posted by rwelch

Whenever I do a 4 point, insurance inspection, I note the service drop as a deficiency in need of repair if it is significantly less than 10' high. Usually, I'll only note it if it is about 9'.
My question is, "Is anyone else doing this?"
While I don't want to hurt the homeowner, If someone hit the drop with a ladder and it was found to be 9', instead of 10', I could be held liable.
Any thoughts?

You should review NEC "Section 230.24 Clearances. Overhead service conductors shall not be readily accessible and shall comply with 230.24(A) through (E) for services not over 600 volts, nominal." This rule was revised long ago to comply with the NESC so that heights above various locations would be the same.

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by thession

If it is less than ten feet than the homeowner is responsible for raising his service mast to the required height.

It is the same around here.

[Robert Meier]

Code wise it's somewhat contradictory because on one hand service drops are covered by the utility company regulations and are outside of the purview of the NEC, but the NEC still lists minimum heights in 230.24. I'm guessing that if the drop is solely covered by the utility then 230.24 does not apply.

90.2 Scope.
(A) Covered. This Code covers the installation of electrical conductors, equipment, and raceways; signaling and communications conductors, equipment, and raceways; and optical fiber cables and raceways for the following:
(1) Public and private premises, including buildings, structures, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, and floating buildings
(2) Yards, lots, parking lots, carnivals, and industrial substations

(3) Installations of conductors and equipment that connect to the supply of electricity
(4) Installations used by the electric utility, such as office buildings, warehouses, garages, machine shops, and recreational buildings, that are not an integral part of a generating plant, substation, or control center.
(B) Not Covered. This Code does not cover the following:
(1) Installations in ships, watercraft other than floating buildings, railway rolling stock, aircraft, or automotive vehicles other than mobile homes and recreational vehicles
FPN: Although the scope of this Code indicates 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 exclusively 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 associated metering, or

[Robert J. OConnor]

Originally Posted by jtedesco3

Use a nonmetallic measuring stick instead:

The one pictured is a specialized tool, and a little costly at around $700 just for getting a service drop height. He could just use a 16' fiberglass surveyors rod at around $60 ...

Originally Posted by Robert Meier

Code wise it's somewhat contradictory because on one hand service drops are covered by the utility company regulations and are outside of the purview of the NEC, but the NEC still lists minimum heights in 230.24. I'm guessing that if the drop is solely covered by the utility then 230.24 does not apply.

Thats my read too. And in some more rural areas the service drops to a pole with a meter near the property line, and then continues overhead to the building which is covered by the NEC.

Have heard of at least a few cases where inspectors flagged somewhat low drops, and clients were later told by the utility there wasn't a problem. Some utilities require greater clearances (e.g. see attached from local utility company). If you dont like egg face sandwiches the best thing to do if you are checking drop clearances is contact the local utility company to get their requirements.

And put away that metal tape for gods sake ... is your life worth $60 ...
.