Are internal disconnects illegal?

herding_cats

herding_cats

Senior Member
Location
Kansas
Occupation
Mechanical Engineer
I just recently finished the design/build of a grocery store. There were 30 individual refrigeration condensing units and I landed the disconnects internally inside the units. My question is, is there anything dictating in NEC that disconnects have to be EXTERNAL? A lot of new roof top HAVC units have internal disconnects from the manufacturer. The install was really clean and made no screw holes in the sheet metal body of the condensers. No rain leakage or rust.
 
kwired said:
440.14 does require it to be readily accessible (from the equipment). If you need tools (other than keys) to access it then it doesn't meet that requirement.
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And your point is? Anyone reading the section would see the wording.
 
herding_cats said:
I just recently finished the design/build of a grocery store. There were 30 individual refrigeration condensing units and I landed the disconnects internally inside the units. My question is, is there anything dictating in NEC that disconnects have to be EXTERNAL? A lot of new roof top HAVC units have internal disconnects from the manufacturer. The install was really clean and made no screw holes in the sheet metal body of the condensers. No rain leakage or rust.
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I am glad you are compliant, but it would have been a heck of a time to find out it isn't compliant. lol
 
For those without a book

440.14 Location

Disconnecting means shall be located within sight from, and readily accessible from, the air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment. The disconnecting means shall be permitted to be installed on or within the air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment. Disconnecting means shall meet the working space requirements of 110.26(A).
The disconnecting means shall not be located on panels that are designed to allow access to the air-conditioning or refrigeration equipment or where it obscures the equipment nameplate(s).
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Dennis Alwon said:
For those without a book
Click to expand...
440.14 Location

Disconnecting means shall be located within sight from, and readily accessible from, the air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment. The disconnecting means shall be permitted to be installed on or within the air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment. Disconnecting means shall meet the working space requirements of 110.26(A).
The disconnecting means shall not be located on panels that are designed to allow access to the air-conditioning or refrigeration equipment or where it obscures the equipment nameplate(s).


^^^^That has been in there for a long time.
 
Awesome. The guys from the Hussman refrigeration company told me it was illegal. It's clearly not.
 
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