Could you quantify the distance that "present" means? 1ft? 2ft? 20ft? 50ft? 500ft? NEC deliberately chose not to quantify this distance. They chose instead to dictate wiring methods and minimum sizes instead. So long as those methods and sizes are adhered to, the installation is safe and legal, regardless of it's "present" 1ft from the building or "present" 50ft away and shared with the primary structure.
I contend that "present" simply means that it exists at the site where each building is, not that it be located along the edge of the foundation.
[This message has been edited by SteveFehr (edited 11-30-2006).]
