NEMA 3R Walk-in Enclosures; Buildings or just Enclosures? 2

[PLMHA]

Has anyone run into a situation where a local construction official wants a pre-manufactured NEMA 3R enclosure treated as a building/structure? We believe it is just an enclosure and not a building and are looking for good ideas to help make the case.

 

[jghrist]

I would expect the local building code to have a definition of a building. If the enclosure cannot be occupied by a person, it probably doesn't fit the definition of a building.

Then again, the NEC definitions of buildings and structures could be construed to mean a flagpole is a building. It is a structure because it was "built or constructed" and it is a building because it is a "structure that stands alone". How do you appeal to common sense?

 

[dpc]

We have had this issue in the State of Washington with pre-fab substation control enclosures. We didn't win. WA has unique requirements for pre-fab buildings, mobile facilities and similar equipment.

If the enclosure is UL-labeled as a piece of electrical equipment, that might help. Obviously, you should inform them that generally no one is ever inside the enclosure except for specific maintenance activities.

Good luck...

"The more the universe seems comprehensible, the more it also seems pointless." -- Steven Weinberg