Article 230 Services

Article 230 covers service conductors and equipment for control and protection of services that are not over 1000 volts ac or 1500 volts dc. The requirements in Article 230 apply to arguably every power system that serves a structure as most of those power systems will be supplied by a utility.

It is very important that we understand the definition of a service to really comprehend when the requirements of Article 230 apply.

This Article is organized in parts. Parts I through VII.

Part I General

Here you will find the general requirements for all services and service conductors. The title of this part gives away its purview which is general in nature applying to all services and service equipment.

Part II Overhead Service Conductors

This part addresses just overhead service conductors as the title of this part suggests. The focus for overhead service conductors include selecting the right conductor for the application which has to withstand the direct sun and have the strength to span distances. In addition, the requirements you’ll see here help keep these conductors away from people and from vehicles like trucks and even trains.

Part III Underground Service Conductors

Underground service conductor requirements are found here. The focus for underground conductors is selecting the right conductor for the job keeping in mind these will either direct buried or in raceway and considered wet locations. There are also requirements that seek to ensure these conductors are physically protected.

Part IV Service-Entrance Conductors

It’s important to read the definition of Service-Entrance conductors to completely understand what conductors are actually impacted by the requirements found in this Part IV of Article 230.

Part V Service Equipment General

Yet another area where the defined term will help understand what is impacted by the requirements found in this Part V. Service equipment is very important as it is the location where most with interact with that point in the system where the utility meets the actual infrastructure.

Part VI Service-Equipment Disconnecting Means

There is not currently a definition for what a service disconnect is but the requirements in this Part should be very clear to the user of the Code. The service-equipment disconnecting means plays a very important role in power isolation for many different reasons.

Part VII Service-Equipment Overcurrent Protection

Overcurrent protection of service equipment is important and is unique in practice. Defined terms are critical for all of the requirements of Article 230 and many other areas of the Code and this Part VII is no different.