Burial Depth for Primary Wire? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Morning Wood · 05-20-2008, 08:48 PM

I need to find out what the burial depth is for primary line running from a utility pole to a ground transformer. I would like to put the line as shallow as possible in spots. What are the restrictions? I am in MA and it is residential. National Grid engineer has not been responsive enough to my liking. thanks.

Kgmz · 05-21-2008, 01:12 AM

Normally it is 24 to 36 inches of coverage, but may depend on your local utility.

Around here it is 24" on private property and 36" in the public right of way

Morning Wood · 05-21-2008, 04:47 AM

I'm talking about high voltage line running to a transformer. How about if the line is running through a parking area? Does it have to be deeper? What if I put the line in schedule 80 conduit or steel conduit and pour concrete above it? Would that gain me anything?

jmic · 05-21-2008, 05:21 AM

Around here if need be for ledge you can be within 12 "of surface if encased with 6" of concrete.

Speedy Petey · 05-21-2008, 05:21 AM

Get the spec from your POCO!
Anything anyone tells you here is useless unless they know the exact spec for your area.
They are probably available online.

Thomp · 05-21-2008, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kgmz

Normally it is 24 to 36 inches of coverage, but may depend on your local utility.

Around here it is 24" on private property and 36" in the public right of way

Have to agree here. I wouldn't put it any less than 36" and cover it in sand.
That's what the POCO does here.

Bkessler · 05-21-2008, 08:33 AM

I have never put primary in without encasing it in concrete. I agree with speedy check local utitlity. Here in socal two jobs going on at the same time one edison planner said our switch gear had to be set on a six inch bumper in the utility room. Two week later after we had them put a bumper for the switch gear another edison planner told us we had to pour more concrete and even out the bumper. First in La second one in Chino.

woodchuck2 · 05-21-2008, 09:53 AM

36" per the Grid Company, 12" in conduit.

Kgmz · 05-21-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morning Wood

I'm talking about high voltage line running to a transformer. How about if the line is running through a parking area? Does it have to be deeper? What if I put the line in schedule 80 conduit or steel conduit and pour concrete above it? Would that gain me anything?

Thats what I assumed since you did say "primary wire".

Now about whether what you mentioned will gain anything that will depend on your local utility and local rules and regs. Around here it will not gain you anything.

I dig the ditches for these all the time, and the homes we build are always on acreage and sit way back from the road. And it is always cheaper to run the primary wire close to the house and have a transformer sitting on a pad.

And I am also a licensed electrician in Washington, license number MARTIK*938JZ

Plumbers license
MARTIK*939KA

Combined General Contractors and Electrical Contractors license
ZENITI*187D6

Morning Wood · 05-21-2008, 08:06 PM

Got the word from my electrician today that 2' in schedule 80 pvc is ok. Sand all around the conduit. works for me.

cmec · 06-01-2008, 10:06 AM

Depends on the utility co rules or tariff, and is based on the NESC NOT THE NEC,

**genecarp** · 06-01-2008, 10:07 AM

36'' around ny