Mike Dolt Enterprises
Mike Dolt Enterprises
User: marmathsen, Location: Seattle, Wa ...ish
Asked on: Friday, May 28, 2021 at 6:06 pm EDT
Answered on: Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 11:03 am EDT
Question: Hey All,There was recently a thread about what's allowed regarding circuits/feeders between a detached garage and a home.We started into a job today where they have built a detached office that we are running a feeder to. They also are asking about running from the detached office back underground to a possible car charger (240V), 240V table saw receptacle, and a 120V general purpose receptacle. All three of which would be mounted to a deck that doubles as a carport but IS ATTACHED TO THE MAIN HOUSE. That deck though is part of a larger deck "system" where there are wood stairs and an wooden boardwalk that also is connected to the new detached office. So essentially all of the deck space is shared by both the main house and the detached office.My question:Would you all consider the deck as part of the main house which would limit me to 1 circuit feeding back from the detached office (per NEC 225.30) or would it be a separate structure from the house, or would both buildings be considered the same house because they are connected via the decks?Looking forward to your input. Thanks!Rob
Consensus
The majority opinion is that the deck would be considered part of the main house, limiting the number of circuits running from the detached office to 1.
Reasons
The deck is
attached to the main house, which establishes a physical connection. The deck serves as a common area used by both the main house and the detached office. The wooden stairs and boardwalk further connect the deck and the office to the main house. Treating the deck as a separate structure would defeat the purpose of NEC 225.30, which is to prevent overloading the circuit supplying the detached building.
Supporting Code
NEC 225.30
"Feeders shall serve only one building unless otherwise permitted in 225.30(A) through (F)."
NEC 225.30(B)
"Where more than one building or structure is on the premises, each building or structure served shall be supplied by a separate feeder from the service equipment."
Exceptions
Some exceptions may apply in certain circumstances: If the deck is
permanently separated from the main house by a fire-rated barrier, it could be considered a separate structure. If the deck is used exclusively by the detached office and has no connection to the main house, it could be considered part of the office.
Recommendation:
It is recommended to err on the side of caution and treat the deck as part of the main house, limiting the number of circuits running from the detached office to 1. This ensures compliance with NEC 225.30 and avoids potential safety hazards. Flag for review