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Subject - GFCI for heat tracing
JimmyDee I have a request for an answer to this question that I'm not 100% sure of the answer.
Heat trace wiring (over the condenser water pipe)for the industrial Ac unit, does the circuit requires GFCI protection?
(A) Outdoor installation
(B) Indoor installation (sprinkler lines inside the building)
kbsparky In all applications, you should provide Ground-Fault protection for equipment which has a different threshold for tripping than your standard GFCI receptacles [30 mA VS 6 mA]. See Article 427.22

-Ken
Ryan_J I don't have my code book here, but I thought this was in 426.28, not article 427, or am I mistaken?
JimmyDee
Here both are
quote:

ARTICLE 427 Fixed Electric Heating Equipment for Pipelines and Vessels
III. Resistance Heating Elements
427.22, Equipment Protection.
Ground-fault protection of equipment shall be provided for electric heat tracing and heating panels. This requirement shall not apply in industrial establishments where there is alarm indication of ground faults and
(1) Conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified persons service the installed systems.
(2) Continued circuit operation is necessary for safe operation of equipment or processes.


quote:
ARTICLE 426 Fixed Outdoor Electric Deicing and Snow-Melting Equipment
426.28 Equipment Protection.
Ground-fault protection of equipment shall be provided for fixed outdoor electric deicing and snow-melting equipment, except for equipment that employs mineral-insulated, metal-sheathed cable embedded in a noncombustible medium.
kbsparky Article 426: Fixed Outdoor Electric Deicing and Snow Melting Equipment

Article 427: Fixed Electric Heating Equipment for Pipelines and Vessels

Since the OP's question concerned the use of heat trace on a condensate line and sprinkler systems (pipelines) I figure that article 427 is more appropriate place to look.

-Ken
kbsparky Sheesh .... looks like JimmyDee beat me to the punch by less than a minute
Ryan_J Thanks.
relbas Some place in the code book ther is a provision that saying " To prevent from fals tripping and it is not readily accesible so we can ommit the requirment" but I can not locait it.
Any idia what iam talking about.
kbsparky Read back along the thread. It's in 427.22

"....This requirement shall not apply in industrial establishments where there is alarm indication of ground faults and
(1) Conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified persons service the installed systems.
(2) Continued circuit operation is necessary for safe operation of equipment or processes...."

Nothing is mentioned about being readily accessible. As for false tripping, again let me point out that the requirement is for Ground-fault protection for equipment, which is a completely different animal from ground-fault protection for personnel. 30mA VS 6mA.
Todd Irvin So what's the final answer?
Could you be required to put on GFCI to protect personnel if not for equipment?

I've worked in plants that have it both ways....one requires a ground fault, and the other doesn't. I've always thought it was a good idea, but it does give trouble from time to time on nuisance trips...especially on initial start-up. I've had to remove the ground fault temporarily on old tracing and let it heat up for a while, then place it back and everything was fine.