Can Your Farm Benefit from Rewiring?
The following list of questions will give you a better idea of the work that may need to be done to bring your farm's wiring up to code. If you answer "no" to one or more questions, consider contacting your WPS agricultural consultant to discuss Farm Rewiring Program options.
Wiring Quality
- Are wires protected from mechanical damage?
- Are wires protected from water?
- Are wires free of scrapes, breaks or cracks in insulation?
Containment
- Do all electrical receptacles contain grounding materials?
- Are switches enclosed in sealed boxes?
- Are fixtures tightly secured?
- Are lamp guards installed where required?
- Are light sockets in good working order?
- Is water kept out of electrical boxes?
- Is all electrical equipment kept free of debris?
- Are all electrically heated waterers serviced with a cable or conduit equipped with an equipment grounding conductor?
- Is all metallic equipment that can become energized bonded to the electric panel ground?
- Are enclosures in areas subject to wash-down waterproof, dust-proof and made of corrosion-resistant materials?
- Are cables of a type designed for use in a wet or damp environment?
- Are nonmetallic boxes and fixtures with appropriate fittings used throughout the facility?
- Are all thermostats UL-listed, watertight, dust-tight and made of corrosion-resistant material?
- Are all cable fittings of a watertight design?
Code and Compliance
- Is all equipment UL-listed?
- Do lamps maintain steady light when motors start?
- Are all motors totally enclosed and rated for wet conditions of farm service?
- Is a disconnect switch located within sight of all motors, fans, waterers, etc.?
- Are circuits protected by properly sized fuses or circuit breakers?
- Is a properly wired double-throw transfer switch provided for safe use of a standby power source?
- Does each building have only a single electrical service entrance?
- Is the service entrance equipped with two ground rods?
- Is there at least three feet of clearance in front of all panels?
- Can all electrical panel doors be opened at least 90 degrees?
- Are rainproof enclosures used in all outside areas?
- Are all cords used outdoors of a type able to resist damage from sunlight? (Label designation includes the letter "E".)
- Are all conductor attachments to buildings made with adequate clearance around building openings?
- Is the building equipped with a lightening protection system?
- Is the lightening rod system bonded to the electrical system grounding network as required by the National Electric Code?
- Are surge arrestors provided to protect computers, electronic controls, etc.?