A SWD breaker is a 'standard' breaker that has passed life cycle tests for fluorescent ballast and tungsten light switching currents.
If it failed violently you would be exposed to the arc flash incident energy of the panelboard the breaker is mounted in.
The 70E seems to dodge these 'black and white' decisions on purpose. Your company needs to develop safe electrical work practices that address this situation. These practices may consider the risk associated with the switching task. The NFPA 70E committee has included informational language in the 2012 edition, stating they believe it is possible for under normal operating conditions properly installed and maintained equipment may not pose a hazard.
They sure doThe 70E seems to dodge these 'black and white' decisions on purpose.
The NFPA 70E committee has included informational language in the 2012 edition, stating they believe it is possible for under normal operating conditions properly installed and maintained equipment may not pose a hazard.
"Properly installed and maintained" causes more problems than it solves IMO, according to who?
Is a 15 0r 20 amp breaker likely to cause injury when the panel cover is on?Small molded case circuit breakers are definitely easier to 'maintain' (SWD is only available on 1-pole 15 & 20A devices), however they are also fairly easy to have issues with installation.
It is not the breaker as much as it is the energy where the breaker is located. I have seen these small breakers installed in outdoor 600A service entrance panelboards as well as indoor 2-circuit loadcenters, one product two different amounts of riskIs a 15 0r 20 amp breaker likely to cause injury when the panel cover is on?
Small molded case circuit breakers are definitely easier to 'maintain' (SWD is only available on 1-pole 15 & 20A devices), however they are also fairly easy to have issues with installation.
It is not the breaker as much as it is the energy where the breaker is located. I have seen these small breakers installed in outdoor 600A service entrance panelboards as well as indoor 2-circuit loadcenters, one product two different amounts of risk
When using an swd lighting circuit breaker to turn on and off flourescent lights, do you have to use arc flash protection
One important thing to remember "Never stand in front of the panel when operating breakers"
Stand off to one side and turn your head is the best pratice. How many store clerks pratice
these safety measures ??
Small breakers also have fault current breaking capacity printed on them.As such,I wonder how they could have been installed without verification in outdoor 600A service entrance panel boards,where fault level would normally be much higher than their breaking capacity.I have seen these small breakers installed in outdoor 600A service entrance panelboards ............
Small breakers also have fault current breaking capacity printed on them.As such,I wonder how they could have been installed without verification in outdoor 600A service entrance panel boards,where fault level would normally be much higher than their breaking capacity.
Its easy...you just take the breakers out of the box and install them. Many installers have no idea of what interrupting rating is required and just install whatever breaker they have that fits. Not all inspectors look for this, and there are many jobs done without permits or inspections.Small breakers also have fault current breaking capacity printed on them.As such,I wonder how they could have been installed without verification in outdoor 600A service entrance panel boards,where fault level would normally be much higher than their breaking capacity.
Small breakers also have fault current breaking capacity printed on them.As such,I wonder how they could have been installed without verification in outdoor 600A service entrance panel boards,where fault level would normally be much higher than their breaking capacity.
365 days x 10 years. so a breaker is operated 3650 times over a 10 year period..... is that the mfg rating?
a typical light switch gets used 10 zillion times over a 10 year period.
The panel board with series rated circuit breakers is required to display the breaking capacity by the code.But what about the panel board with full rated breakers?This is why the latest NEC now requires the available fault current to be put on the panel. Previous to this the installer might not know what to use. I have seen where it can take 10-20 man-hours spread over 2-3weeks to get available fault current information.
All panels have to have their ratings marked on the nameplate. Additional labels are required for series rated systems. Jim was talking about the rule in 110.24 in the 2011 code that requires service equipment, other than in dwelling units, be marked with the available fault current. Not the rating of the panel and its breakers, but the amount of current that the utility could supply into a fault.The panel board with series rated circuit breakers is required to display the breaking capacity by the code.But what about the panel board with full rated breakers?