422.33(A) Circle Speak

[sfav8r]

422.33(A) Reads
(A) Separable Connector or an Attachment Plug and
Receptacle. For cord-and-plug-connected appliances, an
accessible separable connector or an accessible plug and
receptacle shall be permitted to serve as the disconnecting
means. Where the separable connector or plug and receptacle
are not accessible, cord-and-plug-connected appliances
shall be provided with disconnecting means in accordance
with 422.31.

OK, so if a plug and receptacle are NOT ACCESSIBLE they don't count as a disconnect. Well, my question is how can you have a cord and plug that are not accessible? Article 100 defines accessible as:

Accessible (as applied to wiring methods). Capable of
being removed or exposed without damaging the building
structure or finish or not permanently closed in by the structure
or finish of the building.

If it isn't accessible as per Article 100 then by definition you can't have a plug and receptacle there anyway. It seems to me that a 220v receptacles behind a range is "accessible" as per Article 100. If you are going to argue that it is NOT accessible by, then I don't think a plug and receptacle or a junction box and a whip should be allowed there either.

Also, another pet peeve of mine is the interpretation of 422.33(A) by some AHJs as disallowing a plug and receptacle behind the stove. It doesn't disallow it. It just says that it doesn't count as a disconnect if it isn't accessible. But then that brings us back to my original point. I think I'll have another drink now.

 

[xformer]

422.33(A) Reads
(A) Separable Connector or an Attachment Plug and
Receptacle. For cord-and-plug-connected appliances, an
accessible separable connector or an accessible plug and
receptacle shall be permitted to serve as the disconnecting
means. Where the separable connector or plug and receptacle
are not accessible, cord-and-plug-connected appliances
shall be provided with disconnecting means in accordance
with 422.31.

OK, so if a plug and receptacle are NOT ACCESSIBLE they don't count as a disconnect. Well, my question is how can you have a cord and plug that are not accessible? Article 100 defines accessible as:

Accessible (as applied to wiring methods). Capable of
being removed or exposed without damaging the building
structure or finish or not permanently closed in by the structure
or finish of the building.

If it isn't accessible as per Article 100 then by definition you can't have a plug and receptacle there anyway. It seems to me that a 220v receptacles behind a range is "accessible" as per Article 100. If you are going to argue that it is NOT accessible by, then I don't think a plug and receptacle or a junction box and a whip should be allowed there either.

Also, another pet peeve of mine is the interpretation of 422.33(A) by some AHJs as disallowing a plug and receptacle behind the stove. It doesn't disallow it. It just says that it doesn't count as a disconnect if it isn't accessible. But then that brings us back to my original point. I think I'll have another drink now.

Would it have been better for you if they had used the term readily accessible?

 

[fmtjfw]

422.33(A) Reads
(A) Separable Connector or an Attachment Plug and
Receptacle. For cord-and-plug-connected appliances, an
accessible separable connector or an accessible plug and
receptacle shall be permitted to serve as the disconnecting
means. Where the separable connector or plug and receptacle
are not accessible, cord-and-plug-connected appliances
shall be provided with disconnecting means in accordance
with 422.31.

OK, so if a plug and receptacle are NOT ACCESSIBLE they don't count as a disconnect. Well, my question is how can you have a cord and plug that are not accessible? Article 100 defines accessible as:

Accessible (as applied to wiring methods). Capable of
being removed or exposed without damaging the building
structure or finish or not permanently closed in by the structure
or finish of the building.

If it isn't accessible as per Article 100 then by definition you can't have a plug and receptacle there anyway. It seems to me that a 220v receptacles behind a range is "accessible" as per Article 100. If you are going to argue that it is NOT accessible by, then I don't think a plug and receptacle or a junction box and a whip should be allowed there either.

Also, another pet peeve of mine is the interpretation of 422.33(A) by some AHJs as disallowing a plug and receptacle behind the stove. It doesn't disallow it. It just says that it doesn't count as a disconnect if it isn't accessible. But then that brings us back to my original point. I think I'll have another drink now.

Not if you can't reach it by removing the bottom drawer.

Did you read the next section in the Code?
422.33 Disconnection of Cord-and-Plug-Connected Appliances.
(B) Connection at the Rear Base of a Range. For cord-and-plug-connected household electric ranges, an attachment plug and receptacle connection at the rear base of a range, if it is accessible from the front by removal of a drawer, shall be considered as meeting the intent of 422.33(A).

 

[GoldDigger]

To me, the main concern would be if to access the plug you had to expose yourself to live parts. That would negate your reason for using the plug as a disconnect in the first place.

Tapatalk!

 

[fmtjfw]

To me, the main concern would be if to access the plug you had to expose yourself to live parts. That would negate your reason for using the plug as a disconnect in the first place.

Tapatalk!

There are no live parts accessible when you remove the bottom drawer. Are you talking about the plug prongs? That is no different than just about any plug you find in a residence.

 

[sfav8r]

Not if you can't reach it by removing the bottom drawer.

Did you read the next section in the Code?
422.33 Disconnection of Cord-and-Plug-Connected Appliances.
(B) Connection at the Rear Base of a Range. For cord-and-plug-connected household electric ranges, an attachment plug and receptacle connection at the rear base of a range, if it is accessible from the front by removal of a drawer, shall be considered as meeting the intent of 422.33(A).

Yes, but that doesn't answer the question regarding accessibility and the definition in article 100.

 

[John120/240]

For cord-and-plug-connected household electric ranges, an attachment plug and receptacle connection at the rear base of a range, if it is accessible from the front by removal of a drawer, shall be considered as meeting the intent of 422.33(A).

Yes, but that doesn't answer the question regarding accessibility and the definition in article 100.

The last sentence quoted above satisfies the accessibility issue IMHO, irregardless of the definition found in Article 100.
Remove the bottom drawer or often times it is just as easy to pull the range away from the cabinet.

 

[GoldDigger]

There are no live parts accessible when you remove the bottom drawer. Are you talking about the plug prongs? That is no different than just about any plug you find in a residence.

I was talking about the general concept of an inaccessible plug, not the range drawer special case.

Tapatalk!