From amurray



It would appear someone took the NEC requirement for a receptacle in a bathroom to an extreme

Never, ever under estimate the "creativity" of human beings.

The meter is on a separate structure from the porta-potty. I don't know, but maybe this is just the storage area for United Site Services? A search on that phone number turned up this site: http://www.unitedsiteservices.com/markets/northern-california.html

In addition to porta-potties, they also provide temporary power, including hookups to the local POCO ... which would require meters, of course!

Well, that would be one way to save space on the jobsite, Consolidate your temp service and facilities in one unit! Hey, even put a ventilation fan in there

http://www.unitedsiteservices.com/construction/products/temporary-power.html

Gees, just take our fun away

That is an interestion business venture. "Bob's Electric and Porta Potty Service"

OK, just to play devils' advocate .... many of those porta-potties have sinks in them. Why should the receptacle requirement NOT apply? After all, many of them sit in the same place for years on end.....

Because when the wind blows the thing over, the blue stuff will ruin the GFCI

Are you talking about the porta jon or the ones who usually uses them all the time?

I am assuming that out of the frame there is a huge concrete block anchoring that blue steel thing in place... or.. maybe not?

Because that rule only applies to dwelling units.

I was waiting for someone to catch that 'detail,' Don

I know a couple people who tend to spend all day in the can. I would consider it a dwelling since they seem to be living in there.

The few times I've used a porta potty, I've always wanted to get out of there as soon as I can ... I sure wouldn't sit in there any longer than necessary!

I'm confused as to why folks are confused by that picture--there is one of those on every major new-construction site around here. It's temporary power and the required porta-potty in one unit, from one place, for one rental fee. I take it that the rest of the country doesn't do it this way?

I started this thread, and posted the picture, for two reasons.

First, I was feeling a bit playful ... and wanted to highlight the fact that the receptacle requirement applied only to residential restrooms. I may have been a bit wound up over this detail, having just had a disagreement with a 'home and business inspector' over this very point.

The second was a less obvious 'sore point' these temporary power drops cause: licensing. These skids are rented by the porta-potty folks. They even advertise temp power as one of their services. Yet, none of the local firms have the required EC license, or a licensed sparky on staff.

We would still need a permit before POCO would connect

Doug, that seems to be where the local rules break down ... here permission of the AHJ is only required when you want the PoCo to power up an incomplete building system (as during construction). If they're just running to a pedestal, the PoCo will connect without a call from the AHJ.

Okay here it is called temporary power and the permit has to be renewed every 6 months declaring the Installation is still Safe

We inspect temp power here too (a 301)