Qs and As resulting from second site visit.docx

NYAIC Electrical Distribution Upgrades Project Bidders Questions received 1/24/2022 (After Second Site Visit)

1. It was pointed out at the second site visit that the existing service conductors are underground, not overhead as one of our previous questions presumed. The government representative said they didn’t want the underground conductors replaced. Please confirm that the government does not want underground service cables replaced. Underground service conductors to remain. USDA is not requiring replacement of the underground service conductors.

2. It was pointed out at the second site visit that there is a long underground sub-panel feeder going from one end of Building 1 to the other end of building 1. The government representative said they didn’t want these underground conductors replaced. Please confirm that the government does not want underground feeder conductors to be replaced. Underground feeder conductors to remain. USDA is not requiring replacement of the underground feeder conductors.

a. Each new panel is 20” wide. Most of the electric closets are approximately 24” wide. Generally speaking, the project requires us to install two panels, side by side, in each closet. Two 20” wide panels will not fit in the existing closets. At the second site visit, it was suggested that one of the two panels be placed in a loft area. We have code concerns with putting the panel up in the loft: a. Closet areas are 24 inches deep and 48 inches wide which will accommodate two 20 inch panels side by side.

b. National Electric Code 210.26-A-3 requires a clear working space height of 2 meters (6’ 6”) high in front of the full width of the panel or 30” wide minimum (see NEC 210.26-B below). We ae not certain that this can be maintained in every loft area. Closet areas are 24 inches deep and 48 inches wide which will accommodate two 20 inch panels side by side.

c. National Electric Code 210.26-E requires dedicated equipment space to be the width and depth of the panel for a height of 6’ 0”. We are not sure this can be maintained in every loft area. A total of 9 buildings have a 6 feet 6 inch height in the loft areas. These 9 loft areas should not be needed when you use two 20 inch wide panels, which are available on the market. A total of 7 buildings have loft areas of only 5 feet clearance. These 7 loft areas should not be needed when you use two 20 inch wide panels, which are available on the market. These 7 buildings currently have side by side panels which are 20 inches and 26 inches in width, therefore two 20 inch panels will have 8 inches to spare.

d. National Electric Code 210.26-C-1 at least 1 door of sufficient area shall be provided to give access to and egress from working space about electrical equipment. Are the doors to the lofts adequate to meet this requirement? Yes, we have adequate access and egress in all the buildings

e. Note: There may be other code concerns not listed here

f. Please provide a response of how you would like the contractor to proceed when faced with these code violations? Potential code violations shall be brought to the attention of the PPM and EPM.