"shall remain in place with or without the lock installed."

[opb]

Hello,

I am trying to understand when temporary/external lockout devices are OK and when they are not and am having a hard time finding an answer. For example, when is it OK to use a circuit-breaker lockout device that is not attached permanently to the breaker? When does "The provisions for locking or adding a lock to the disconnecting means shall be installed at the switch or circuit breaker used as the disconnecting means and shall remain in place with or without the lock installed." apply? Is it required to have a permanently-affixed lockout device on all circuit breakers that need to be locked out at some point? Or are the above provisions limited to certain applications?

Thanks for any help or insight provided!

Oliver

 

[One-eyed Jack]

Hello,

I am trying to understand when temporary/external lockout devices are OK and when they are not and am having a hard time finding an answer. For example, when is it OK to use a circuit-breaker lockout device that is not attached permanently to the breaker? When does "The provisions for locking or adding a lock to the disconnecting means shall be installed at the switch or circuit breaker used as the disconnecting means and shall remain in place with or without the lock installed." apply? Is it required to have a permanently-affixed lockout device on all circuit breakers that need to be locked out at some point? Or are the above provisions limited to certain applications?

Thanks for any help or insight provided!

Oliver

If you are attempting to use the lockout instead of the normally required disconnect then the lockout device "must" remain in place. If it is temporary for your repair or service call then it is just temporary. I won't get into all the other requirements as I am sure some others will point out.

 

[Cavie]

A permanent lockout is used in place of a disconect at the unit. A temp disconect is used any time you are working on any circuit out of sight.

 

[augie47]

What Cavie said:::::
The Code will assist you some. In many areas, such as 430.102 and 422.31 it allows the locking means at a breaker to be the allowable "lock out" IF that means remains in place.
Portable lockouts are most commonly used for LOTO procedures while working on equipment which might no require a permanent lock out means (such as a lighting circuit).

 

[opb]

Thank you guys.... so to clarify:
If a qualified person chooses not to use the disconnect, then a permanent lockout must be affixed to the unit as it offers a comparable level of protection to using the disconnect. However, if a unit is not required to have a disconnect, then using a lockout device is fine.

Thank you!

 

[augie47]

That didn't clarify for me
The second part,"if a unit is not required to have a disconnect then using a lockout device is fine" I have no problem with, but the 1st part of your clarification I don't follow.
Regardless of the actions of a "qualified person", if the NEC requires a disconnect the one must be provided. "Temporary" lockout means are never an acceptable substitute for a required disconnect means. Permanent lockable means can, in some cases, as described by Code, be the required lockout means.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

For the worker needing to lock out the circuit, the use of the "portable" locking device is always suitable. For the electrical contractor installing a breaker that is required to be "lockable" the "portable" locking device is never suitable.

 

[opb]

Thank you for the help with this... A couple more questions:
1. How does one know which breakers are required to be lockable?
2. Is there a list of units that are required/not required to have permanent lockable mean?
3. Given a main breaker load center for example, there is a permanent lockable mean on the main breaker. If one determines that the entire load center does not need to be taken out of service and a branch circuit is turned off, can a portable device still be used in this scenario? Is this referenced in the NEC?

Thank you!

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Thank you for the help with this... A couple more questions:
1. How does one know which breakers are required to be lockable?
2. Is there a list of units that are required/not required to have permanent lockable mean?
3. Given a main breaker load center for example, there is a permanent lockable mean on the main breaker. If one determines that the entire load center does not need to be taken out of service and a branch circuit is turned off, can a portable device still be used in this scenario? Is this referenced in the NEC?

Thank you!

In general, the places where the code requires the use a disconnect and the disconnect is not within sight of the equipment, the disconnect must have a permanent means of locking.

 

[LarryFine]

Oliver, welcome to the forum!


Mayhaps we could help you if you give us a couple of examples of applications you have in mind, and we can point to the applicable code section.

 

[Cavie]

Thank you for the help with this... A couple more questions:
1. How does one know which breakers are required to be lockable?
2. Is there a list of units that are required/not required to have permanent lockable mean?
3. Given a main breaker load center for example, there is a permanent lockable mean on the main breaker. If one determines that the entire load center does not need to be taken out of service and a branch circuit is turned off, can a portable device still be used in this scenario? Is this referenced in the NEC?

Thank you!

You have the cart before the horse. Breakers are not required to be lockable. The code calls for equipment to have a disconect. If for some reason you cannot or don't wish to install a disconect within sight of the equipment, usually lack of space, a perminant lockout is an excepted method. It is usually only done once per panel. Tempoary lockouts are for safty reasons when you are working on the disconect in question to keep you from being killed. Perminent lockouts allow you to be safe while working on the equipment that does not have a disconect..