Relocating live pvc conduit

[YungPlantEng]

I’m a construction manager and in order to get access to a tank farm containment for a new containment install I was informed they’d need all the conduit out of the way. Some of this is just batch wise systems that can be turned off no problem but there are several conduits supplying continuously operating lines and the only way to move forward on the project would be to have the electrical contractor relocate the lines as live (240/480). I’ve heard of live lines being worked on with utility power lines but I would assume it’s not common practice and I would be better served to seek alternatives. Will obviously raise this issue with the appropriate personnel but just want to make sure I have the correct idea

 

[resqcapt19]

You would have to prove that energized work is necessary in order to issue the required energized work permit. Not easy to do, and even it it is necessary, it may be difficult to get the required signatures on the energized work permit.
With planning and installation of new conduit and conductors to bypass the work area, this can be done with a short outage. The new conduit and wire would be installed between accessible wire termination points prior to the outage. Ideally the new conduit would be installed in a location where it can remain permanently to avoid a second outage.
If the energized work is actually required, it can be done, but there is a risk of an unplanned outage. Such an outage will take a lot longer to restore than a planned one.

 

[waross]

That is probably illegal and dangerous.
There is no practical comparison to live line work, and the methods used for live line work are not usable on 480 Volt wiring. You would still need brief outages to change connections.
The safe way:
Rent a standby generator.
Use a brief outage to connect the generator to the critical loads.
Complete the work safely on dead circuits and then use another brief outage to switch connections to the new wiring.


--------------------
Ohm's law
Not just a good idea;
It's the LAW!

 

[YungPlantEng]

Haven’t thought of that actually!

Had decided to push this to next summer to hopefully do with a planned outage but using a generator is a much more realizable idea.