Mobile work trailor

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Hendrix

Senior Member
Location
New England
Does the NEC address the wireing for recepts. and lights inside a trailor that can be moved from place to place. This is not a dwelling, just a work shop of sorts.
Who thinks this would need an electrical permit to build thus, an inspection?
 
iwire

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
Hendrix said:
Does the NEC address the wireing for recepts. and lights inside a trailor that can be moved from place to place. This is not a dwelling, just a work shop of sorts.
Who thinks this would need an electrical permit to build thus, an inspection?
Click to expand...

Not really and as far as permits and inspections they are kind of meaningless as soon as you remove it from that jurisdiction.

Mobile homes, manufactured buildings get a tag that is like a UL listing that is how they escape local inspections.

In my opinion it is a gray area and any AHJ could refuse to let this constructed unit it be connected in their jurisdiction.
 
K8MHZ

K8MHZ

Senior Member
Location
Michigan. It's a beautiful peninsula, I've looked
Occupation
Electrician
iwire said:
In my opinion it is a gray area and any AHJ could refuse to let this constructed unit it be connected in their jurisdiction.
Click to expand...

Article #?

Our Search and Rescue and Emergency Communications services all have cargo trailers converted over to mobile command and communications trailers. They all have 120 volt receptacles. I am working on one right now that even has a breaker panel.

So you are telling me that if we pull into parking lot or a person's private property somewhere that the local electrical inspector can tell us we can't plug into their receptacles in order to power the trailer?

I know the AHJ could not cite an NEC article violation that would stop a plug and cord connected hook up, and I doubt the NEC applies to trailers not meant to be habitable that are cord and plug connected.

So, if the AHJ makes such a refusal, it would be virtually impossible to legally enforce.

In my current project, a large cargo trailer that was used by a construction company was donated to our SAR group. When we got it, it already had a 120 volt panel, several receptacles and a heater put in it and none was done at the factory. There is a hole in the floor for the cord that powers the panel up to pass through. I have no idea what jurisdiction (the J in AHJ) any of that was done in. It was brought here and I tore out all the 120 stuff and will be re-installing it after the interior is done.

If I start in one township and the trailer gets pulled to another for me to finish it in, what jurisdiction has authority?
 
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iwire

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
Ah the 'we always do it that way reason' got it. :)


I am saying that if ..

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.
Click to expand...

... the AHJ decides that the trailer is a structure, that they could apply their normal inspection rules to it.

Will they?

Yes, no, maybe, it will depend on the AHJ.
 
K8MHZ

K8MHZ

Senior Member
Location
Michigan. It's a beautiful peninsula, I've looked
Occupation
Electrician
iwire said:
Yet mobile homes and recreational vehicles are?

We just see it differently, IMPO it will be entirely up to each AHJ to accept or allow it.
Click to expand...

Mobile homes, recreational vehicles and floating buildings are specifically mentioned as being covered. There is no mention of any other kind of trailer.

Do your work trailers have 120 volt recepts? If so, did you get them inspected? Do you ask the local inspector if it's OK for you to plug them in before you actually do it?

If we ever had an inspector tell us we couldn't plug our work (or SAR) trailers into a receptacle for power fur would fly.

What would you say of a local inspector told your guys they couldn't plug in your trailers? Would you just say 'OK' and go without power for the job?

I don't think you would, Bob. In fact, I think you would all over that inspector's rear end to show you what gives him the authority to stop you from plugging your trailers in. And of course, he couldn't.
 
renosteinke

renosteinke

Senior Member
Location
NE Arkansas
If it's a trailer, it has a license plate. That makes the DMV the AHJ, not the local town.

Personally, I think if a guy has trouble wiring a work trailer I'd think twice about letting him wire my house.

If it's on wheels, and actually gets moved about, it's not a structure. It doesn't need a ground rod any more than the aircraft carrier Nimitz.
 
J

jusme123

Senior Member
Location
NY
Occupation
JW
iwire said:
Not really and as far as permits and inspections they are kind of meaningless as soon as you remove it from that jurisdiction.

Mobile homes, manufactured buildings get a tag that is like a UL listing that is how they escape local inspections.

In my opinion it is a gray area and any AHJ could refuse to let this constructed unit it be connected in their jurisdiction.
Click to expand...

...can the same thing be said for modular homes that are shipped wired and ready to go ?
 
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