20000331_1.doc
April 3, 2000
SERVICE LATERALS - WARNING RIBBON REQUIREMENTS
Section 300-5(d) was revised in the 1999 National Electrical Code® by adding a new paragraph that
requires a warning ribbon to identify the location of service laterals. Service laterals that are not
encased in concrete and that are buried 18 inches or more below grade are required to have their
location identified by a warning ribbon that is placed in the trench at least 12 inches above the
service lateral.
As noted in the 1998 NEC® Committee Report on Proposals, the substantiation for such
requirement is to provide a warning for persons making excavations in the vicinity of deep service
installations where there often is no physical protection for the conductors and where there is no
overcurrent protection on the supply end of the conductors. A warning ribbon is not required where
service laterals are buried less than 18 inches deep and would usually be installed within a suitable
raceway. It is recognized that for such installations the effectiveness of a warning ribbon would be
minimized if the excavation would reach the electrical installation and the ribbon at the same time.
Section 300-5(d) is intended to apply only to 'service laterals' that are connected to the customer-owned
electrical equipment and wiring on the premises side of the 'service point'.
• It does not apply to utility-owned installations on the serving-utility side of the 'service point'.
• It literally does not apply to 'underground service-entrance conductors' although such
underground service-entrance conductors could be subject to the same degree of hazard.
• In does not apply to feeders and branch circuits since they are generally provided with
overcurrent protection.
NEC® Definition of Service Lateral - The underground service conductors between the street main,
including any risers at a pole or other structure or from transformers, and the first point of
connection to the service-entrance conductors in a terminal box or meter or other enclosure, inside
or outside the building wall. Where there is no terminal box, meter, or other enclosure, the point of
connection shall be considered to be the point of entrance of the service conductors into the
building.
NEC® Definition of Service Point - The point of connection between the facilities of the serving
utility and the premises wiring.
NEC® Definition of Service-Entrance Conductors, Underground System. The service conductors
between the terminals of the service equipment and the point of connection to the service lateral.
Summary - Warning ribbons are required for service lateral installations on the premises side of the
service point in accordance NEC® Section 300-5(d). Service laterals that are not encased in concrete
and that are buried 18 inches or more below grade are required to have their location identified by a
warning ribbon. This requirement applies to all approved wiring methods including raceways or
direct buried cables. The warning ribbon is required to be located at least 12 inches above the
electrical installation. The warning ribbon is required for all types of installation methods, including
but not limited to, open trench, plowing, and directional boring methods.
Board of Electricity
1821 University Ave.
Suite S-128
St. Paul, MN 55104
TEL (651) 642-0800
FAX (651) 642-0441
TTY/MRS (800) 627-3529
www.electricity.state.mn.us State of Minnesota
Board of Electricity