620.25 - split units for elevator machine rooms

[GWillmott]

Hey guys,

I have an elevator inspector who's insisting that we installed a fused disconnect in the machine room of an elevator between the indoor air handler and the outdoor condensing unit.

We obviously have a fused disco outside by the outdoor unit, but installing one inside the machine room would surely mess with the communication cables, no? Is he interpreting the code correctly? Thanks

 

[farmantenna]

I've had elevator machine room with one and didn't do that. But elevator inspectors are tyrants and you obey their orders or your building will never open and you have no recourse and with any complaint comes more delays and. just like the installers. carpets and water coolers and gated area for them or they're walking ,be back next month.

 

[infinity]

We obviously have a fused disco outside by the outdoor unit, but installing one inside the machine room would surely mess with the communication cables, no? Is he interpreting the code correctly? Thanks

What code section did he cite?

 

[GoldDigger]

What code section did he cite?

The unwritten Law Of The Elevator (with apologies to Kipling). https://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/poem/poems_lawofjungle.htm

 

[GWillmott]

What code section did he cite?

Here are the cited codes. It just doesn't make any sense to us why we would have a disconnect in the machine room for the unit which is located outside. The air handler is obviously in the machine room but that isn't where the 208v circuit is going (at least not directly)

620.25 Branch Circuits for Other Utilization Equipment.

(A) Additional Branch Circuits. Additional branch circuit(s)
shall supply utilization equipment not identified in 620.22,
620.23, and 620.24. Other utilization equipment shall be
restricted to that equipment identified in 620.1.
(B) Overcurrent Devices. The overcurrent devices protecting
the branch circuit(s) shall be located in the elevator machine
room, control room, machinery space, or control space.


620.55 Utilization Equipment Disconnecting Means. Each
branch circuit for other utilization equipment shall have a
single means for disconnecting all ungrounded conductors.
The disconnecting means shall be lockable open in accordance
with 110.25.
Where there is more than one branch circuit for other
utilization equipment, the disconnecting means shall be
numbered to correspond to the identifying number of the
equipment served. The disconnecting means shall be provided
with a sign to identify the location of the supply side overcurrent
protective device.

110.25 Lockable Disconnecting Means. If a disconnecting
means is required to be lockable open elsewhere in this Code, it
shall be capable of being locked in the open position. The
provisions for locking shall remain in place with or without the
lock installed.

 

[GoldDigger]

Hey guys,

I have an elevator inspector who's insisting that we installed a fused disconnect in the machine room of an elevator between the indoor air handler and the outdoor condensing unit.

We obviously have a fused disco outside by the outdoor unit, but installing one inside the machine room would surely mess with the communication cables, no? Is he interpreting the code correctly? Thanks

I know that mini-splits use the two line power conductors and a third communications conductor which is referenced to one of the line conductors but has strictly limited current sourcing ability. And the (unfused) disconnect for the indoor unit only interrupts the two line conductors.

Does your condensing unit/air handler communication use that same configuration, or does it use traditional 24V control wiring.
Either way, I do not see an indoor disconnect interfering with "communication cables" any more than any other disconnect location.
The indoor disconnect would be sourced from the outdoor unit rather than from an electrical panel, just as is done with a mini-split.