210.63 revisited

[goldstar]

The following is an excerpt from one of Mike's newsletters :

Article 210 Branch Circuits

210.63 Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Equipment Outlet

The words ?on rooftops and in attics and crawl spaces? and the exception were deleted so that this rule would coordinate with the mechanical code. This section now reads:

A 15 or 20A, single-phase 125V receptacle outlet must be installed at an accessible location for the servicing of heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration equipment (HACR) on rooftops and in attics and crawl spaces. The receptacle must be located within 25 ft. and on the same level of the heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration equipment. The receptacle outlet cannot be connected to the load side of the equipment disconnecting means.. Figure 210?8
Author?s Comment: This rule does not apply to ventilating equipment.

Intent: The changes require a 15 or 20A, single-phase, 125V receptacle outlet be located within 25 ft. of heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration equipment (HACR) for all occupancies, including one and two family dwellings. This receptacle must be GFCI-protected if it is located outdoors [210.8(A)(3)] or in crawl spaces at or below grade [210.8(A)(4)]. Previously this rule only applied to roof tops.

Author?s Comment: The outside 15 or 20A, single-phase, 125V receptacle outlet required for dwelling units [210.52(E)] could be used to satisfy this requirement, but only if the receptacle outlet is located within 25 ft. of the equipment.

I have some questions regarding this section :

1) If you have an existing condition where there are no receptacles within 25' of the AC equipment and an addition is added onto the residence requiring another AC unit in the same location, are you required to install a GFI receptacle ?

2) Since the author of this interpretation is going through the painstaking effort of specifically including the words "on rooftops and in attics and crawl spaces" does that mean that because the words "outdoors or on ground level" were excluded that a receptacle is not required within 25' of an AC compressor at ground level ?

3) Why are only the rooftop and crawl space receptacles required to be GFI protected and not the attic receptacle ? Isn't it in an unfinished area ?

4) The author makes a comment that this does not apply to ventilating equipment. I've been cited by several inspectors that as long as you have a piece of apparatus such as a whole house attic fan installed that requires servicing you are required to have a receptacle in the attic. Is it or is it not a requirement ?

Thanks in advance,

Phil

 

[electricman2]

Re: 210.63 revisited

1) Most inspectors probably would require the
receptacle since this is a new installation
and not a replacement but it would be his call.

2) 210.63 does not exclude outdoor equipment from
the requirement.

3) The conditions that would require GFI protec-
tion in a crawl space or roof, that is, wet
or grounded surfaces would not be present in an
attic.

4) 210.63 includes HACR equipment, not HVAC, so
ventilation equipment would be excluded IMO.

 

[goldstar]

Re: 210.63 revisited

Thanks for your opinions John.

 

[tom baker]

Re: 210.63 revisited

Goldstar: The author, Mike Holt is seldom wrong about the NEC. This issue is very staightforward, the way its presented is correct. The rule only applies to Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Equipment. A vent fan is not intended to have the receptacle outlet. If your inspector requires otherwise then its a mis-application of the NEC.

 

[goldstar]

Re: 210.63 revisited

Thanks Tom.