Emergency Disconnect Readily Accessible

infinity

infinity

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I saw something on Facebook regarding the required access to the EM disconnect on the dwelling. The EM disconnect in on the back side of the house and the entire rear yard is fenced in with an entry gate from the front side of the house. The gate is locked, is the EM disconnect now not readily accessible?

The definition of readily accessible allows keys to be used but if someone is trying to shutdown the power during an emergency like a fireman they won't have acces to the gate key. So the question is does this EM disconnect require access from the street side of the fence to meet the definition of readily accessible? The disconnect can be accessed by entering the yard through the rear door.
 
Not an answer to your code question, but a fence with a locked gate is not going to keep firemen from getting to the rear of the house. They will likely need to get back there to fight the fire, emergency disconnect or not.

To your point, this code section is new enough that all of these nuances are not yet flushed out.
 
Are they really called "emergency" disconnects? Or is this a case of slang getting in the way?
 
jim dungar said:
Are they really called "emergency" disconnects? Or is this a case of slang getting in the way?
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Yes they are, straight from Article 230. So the question is at what point is the disconnect not readily accessible if it is located outdoors as required but behind a locked gate.
230.85 Emergency Disconnects.
For one- and two-family dwelling units, all service conductors shall terminate in disconnecting means having a short-circuit current rating equal to or greater than the available fault current, installed in a readily accessible outdoor location. If more than one disconnect is provided, they shall be grouped. Each disconnect shall be one of the following:
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infinity said:
I saw something on Facebook regarding the required access to the EM disconnect on the dwelling. The EM disconnect in on the back side of the house and the entire rear yard is fenced in with an entry gate from the front side of the house. The gate is locked, is the EM disconnect now not readily accessible?
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Yes it meets the NEC if you can use a key or code to access it. And yes its required to be readily accessible, same as a service disconnect.
While 230.85 had good intentions to protect firefighters a outside disconnect can be equally difficult to reach, not really saving any time.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
The name was insisted on by the first responders, who wanted the outside disconnect.
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Thanks.
But is it intended to be used in the same method as an "emergency" stop in OSHA and other NFPA documents, such as emergency disconnects for pools and spas?

Maybe it should have been called what it is: Fire fighter disconnect.
 
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electrofelon said:
I'm going to stop you right there, no need to go any further, end of discussion it says what it says 😎
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Yes keys that may not even be onsite or locked away in house. Which makes the definition of readily accessible completely impotent.
 
infinity said:
Yes keys that may not even be onsite or locked away in house. Which makes the definition of readily accessible completely impotent.
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Dont fire fighters have their own "keys"? (Axe and demo saw 😂)

But okay, fair enough point for discussion. Have there been issues with the expediency of which the emergency disconnect can be reached?
 
IMO regarding the Article 100 definition as long as it can be reached like by exiting through the rear door of the house it's code compliant. Even if the entire yard were surrounded by a 8' wall there is nothing in the definition that says it needs to be accessible from the street.
 
infinity said:
I saw something on Facebook regarding the required access to the EM disconnect on the dwelling. The EM disconnect in on the back side of the house and the entire rear yard is fenced in with an entry gate from the front side of the house. The gate is locked, is the EM disconnect now not readily accessible?

The definition of readily accessible allows keys to be used but if someone is trying to shutdown the power during an emergency like a fireman they won't have acces to the gate key. So the question is does this EM disconnect require access from the street side of the fence to meet the definition of readily accessible? The disconnect can be accessed by entering the yard through the rear door.
Click to expand...
I belive any electric panels inside the house, basement or garage are also required to be readily accessible?
 
Greg1707 said:
I belive any electric panels inside the house, basement or garage are also required to be readily accessible?
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Yes but for some reason some people believe that since the purpose of the outside EM disconnect is to kill power for the house in an emergency then they shouldn't be installed behind a locked gate.
 
From reading all the posts on here and other sites on EM disconnects seems, its seems 230.85 was a flawed requirement, splitting hairs on the word 'only' in how enclosures were UL labeled, several threads on bizarre grounding issues with inspectors, and this.
It was finally deleted form the 2026 NEC.
The 2026 did add a requirement that the service disconnect for a one or two family dwelling be located outdoors and again does not specify where, just readily accessible outdoors is all that is enforceable by the AHJ.
It could still be located in a walled outdoor courtyard full of dogs.
Of course were just talking about what the local county / town AHJ can enforce, there is other possible issues like if the fire department cant access it will they just let your hosue burn down while they wait for the POCO to show up open up the vault or cut the drop?
And what does home insurance say about that?
 
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