A 120/240-volt residential service is installed underground in rigid PVC conduit listed for direct burial without concrete encasement. The run is beneath an ordinary lawn, not a driveway, slab, building or solid rock. What minimum cover does 2024 IRC Table E3803.1 require for this run?
- 18 inches
- B24 inches
- C12 inches
- D36 inches
Where to look it up
https://dos.ny.gov/nys-residential-code-noa-7242025
Why A is correct
Use the general-location row and the column for nonmetallic raceways listed for direct burial without concrete encasement: 18 inches of cover. Measure cover from the top of the raceway to finished grade. The 24-inch general-location value applies to direct-buried cable or conductors, while the 12-inch residential GFCI branch-circuit provision does not apply to this service. Source: 2024 IRC E3803.1 and Table E3803.1 (2023 NEC Table 300.5), reproduced in the official 2025 RCNYS, based on 2024 IRC with electrical provisions extracted from 2023 NEC. https://dos.ny.gov/nys-residential-code-noa-7242025