A/C clearance

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websparky

Senior Member
Location
Cleveland, Ohio
Here is a photo of an A/C unit that drew a red tag. The placement violated two codes.
One is 110.26 and the other....

ac1.jpg
 
Re: A/C clearance

No supports on the liquidtight?

Seeing as you are the inspector you get to decide what is likely to require working while energized, I do not agree, but then again I do not get to make the call. :D

Working on things live is pretty much always an OSHA violation. ;)
 
Re: A/C clearance

Just curious,
how, specifically, is this in violation of 110.26. The only condensers I have ever wired had the "exposed live parts" enclosed, and the enclosure was accessed by removing the top of the condenser. What is "in the direction of live parts"110.26A(1), if the equipment is outdoors? If I am standing facing the house, I shouldn't have to worry about the depth, width, and obviously not the headroom about the workspace. Even from the standpoint that the photo was taken from, the width of the workspace only need be 30"?
What, in my infinite naivety, am I missing? :confused:
 
Re: A/C clearance

Chuck: I beleive Dave and Bob are refering to a working clearance in front of the disconnect, which also encloses energized parts, which may or may not be likely to require work while energized.
 
Re: A/C clearance

thanks,
though it would seem that there is also more than enough room there as well. Maybe if there were some part that needed servicing betwwen the house and the A/C unit?
 
Re: A/C clearance

110.26 Sufficient access and working space shall be provided and maintained about all electric equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment.

110.3 (B) Installation and Use. Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling.
Click to expand...
I do not believe there is "sufficient access" to the electrical compartment and the controls inside of it. This has nothing to do with it being energized.

Also, this unit has installation instructions that require 12" of space between the coil and any obstruction that could limit air flow. This unit is 5 3/4" from the house.

90.1 Purpose.
(A) Practical Safeguarding. The purpose of this Code is the practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity.

(C) Intention. This Code is not intended as a design specification or an instruction manual for untrained persons.
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I believe as an experienced electrician or as an inspector, it is our duty to remember the purpose and the intention of this code. It is up to us to help others to understand "practical safeguarding" and the "intention" of the code.

Dave Nix
Cleveland, Ohio

[ August 22, 2004, 10:31 AM: Message edited by: websparky ]
 
Re: A/C clearance

Now that we take out the likely to be energized part out of the equation IMO it becomes more apparent that this should have passed, other than the 12" of airspace that was a great catch. :)

Following this line of reasoning

I do not believe there is "sufficient access" to the electrical compartment and the controls inside of it. This has nothing to do with it being energized.
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Do you also fail HID or Fluorescent recessed fixtures which the only access to the ballast and capacitors are up through the trim of the fixture as is the case when these are installed in a sheetrock ceiling?

"sufficient access" is just that, enough to preform the work, it does not mean enough to perform the work easily.

If that is what the CMP wanted IMO they would have replaced sufficient access with readily accessible or something like that.

No mater what 90.1(A) says inspectors should only enforce what is spelled out.

Of course this is just my opinion and you and I will never see this the same way. That is good the trade needs views from both extremes to keep things down the middle. :)

JMO, Bob
 
Re: A/C clearance

Hmmm, inspector's that read installation instructions. That's a good one. But 5 3/4" from the house is pushing it a little. Even the guy installing the unit could have made it easier on himself by allowing more room. In order to install the cover on the AC he has to dig for his stubby screwdriver or 5/16 wrench or, wait!,drive to buy a stubby nut driver when if he had more clearance he could have used a battery drill. :p
 
Re: A/C clearance

Originally posted by pierre:
what about the control cable strapped to the condensate lines?
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Is there a mechanical code that prevents this?

Of course we could tie the control cable to the liquidtight as per 300.11(B)(2)
 
Re: A/C clearance

Jim Sutton there are inspectors that do just that read manufacturers instructions and tag for them not being followed.Believe me we have had our share of them. ;)
 
Re: A/C clearance

Mr Nix, Could this condensor be located close to the wall possibly to avoid a property line setback issue?. I have had to use an offset screwdriver on more than one install just because of this issue. The local building dept. specifies to the a/c contractor to locate the unit a minimum distance from the side property lines which sometimes precludes even using the round type compressors and using the rectangular ones
 
Re: A/C clearance

macmikeman,

Good point! No, not in this case. When that does arise it is usually caught at the plan review and the condenser is located at the rear of the house.
 
Re: A/C clearance

How can an electrical inspector red tag an installation made by an HVAC contractor with regards to the instructions? Are we to believe the electrician set the unit? (I must say it does look like an electrician ran the line set :roll: . If it was the HVAC contractor I would never hire him)

Typically the unit is set and I wire it. Am I atypical?
 
Re: A/C clearance

Pete This is the same problem we have, but it is the disconnect that we get tagged on. I seems that no mater where we stub out, The HVAC guys will set their unit right in front of it. and it doesn't mater who made the mistake It always the electrical inspector who tags the violation as it is a NEC violation not a HVAC violation. But back charging to relocate the disconnect does have an impact on them doing it again.
 
Re: A/C clearance

Wayne 110.26 A says while energized,AHJ here allows the use of a breaker lock out as long as the disconnect is above the unit.
 
Re: A/C clearance

How can an electrical inspector red tag an installation made by an HVAC contractor with regards to the instructions?
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Simple.....I am also a Building Inspector.
Electrical - 110.26
Clearance - 110.3

Both violations were to the HVAC installer.
Not to mention these two violations.
Mechanical Code

304.1 General. Equipment and appliances shall be installed as
required by the terms of their approval, in accordance with the
conditions of the listing, the manufacturer.s installation instructions
and this code.Manufacturer.s installation instructions shall
be available on the job site at the time of inspection.

306.1 Clearances for maintenance and replacement. Clearances
around appliances to elements of permanent construction,
including other installed equipment and appliances, shall be sufficient
to allow inspection, service, repair or replacement without
removing such elements of permanent construction or
disabling the function of a required fire-resistance-rated assembly.
Click to expand...
 
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