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Monday, September 3, 2018
Question:
I have adjoining restaurants with separate meters, disconnects and service locations. They want to use power from one tenant for a led tape light in a window blocked by a 1hr shared fire wall in the other tenants' space. I know 400.7, 400.8 for the cord reasons Can they really share power by code? You would have to disconnect 2 different locations.
Ben Miller
A
Answer:
Hey Ben thanks for your question. It is not clear what you mean by a window that is blocked by a shared fire wall. And why would "they" want to use power from one tenant space to supply equipment in another space, but here are some thoughts.
Branch circuits used for common areas of multi-occupancy buildings cannot be supplied from one of the tenant spaces as stated in 210.25. That does not seem to be the case in your situation if the "LED tape light" is in the other tenant's space - it is not in a common area. Each occupant must have ready access to overcurrent devices for conductors supplying that occupancy as stated in 240.24(B). That might prohibit what is being proposed depending on how "ready access" is defined or determined. Check with the AHJ to get their position.