Access control panel for lockout

[Ty.Jackson68]

We have some control panels that in addition to 24v control have power feeds for 120v and 208v equipment. The power feeds have provision for locking out the equipment.

However, power portions within the panels do have exposed / accessible power components. They are not immediately adjacent to the lockout points. The panels are fairly large.

Would temporary covers like the SmartGuard covers that could be affixed via non conductive means allow unqualified personnel to lockout at the lockout points? Typically this would be operators placing the operations lock on (example would be to lock out 120v fed small pump). Mech operators typically don't have 70e training.


Or does anyone know of permanent covers that could be added? (Like plexiglass with non conductive standoffs. Presuming these would have to be listed. We would need them to be customizable in size to fit the various situations.

 

[BillyMac59]

Don't follow your power flow ... how is there power in the panel if the 120V and 208V are locked out? Any foreign voltage wiring should be of a different colour conductor - we use orange to denote this. And why are unqualified people locking equipment out?
All the lockout points for various tasks should be determined by a risk assessment.

 

[Ty.Jackson68]

1 power feed into the overall panel and main breaker. Feeds into essentially a power terminal strip (this is what is unprotected). Its down in the corner of the overall panel. These various circuits go out to the various small equipment.
Each of those terminal strip circuits goes through a lockable switch - think like a small circuit breaker panel where you can lock the breaker lever kind of thing. This panel is protected so there is no live components accessible, arc flash issues, etc.

Unqualified refers to whether they have NFPA 70e training or not. Example - the millwrights will need to lock out a pump for maintenance - they typically do not have NFPA 70E training. Perfectly qualified to lock out a breaker lever (and required for LOTO procedures). But not qualified to be entering a panel with open live components accessible.

Looking for a way to cover/guard the live component area down in the corner of the panel so that a non-NFPA 70E individual can put their lock on the switch.

UL508 Panel manufacturer should have provided protection/guarding around the live component area. They did not. No trying to figure out how to field retrofit.

 

[BillyMac59]

So the lockout point is inside the panel?

 

[BillyMac59]

Sounds like you have multiple isolation switches inside the panel and want to turn one section off while leaving others live. This circumvents the purpose of the exterior isolation switch. What about adding two isolation switches outside of the panel? The main switch kills everything and the other two kill only the 120v or 208v. No exposure to possible live conductors except for the electrician verifying the absence of voltage. This is the last step of a LOTO procedure.

 

[petersonra]

UL508 Panel manufacturer should have provided protection/guarding around the live component area. They did not. No trying to figure out how to field retrofit.

Who told you that?

There is no such requirement in ul508a.

Best bet is to just add a disconnecting means downstream of the panel. For small single phase motors you can use a light switch with an appropriate rating with a locking hasp. Will get cheaper and safer than screwing around inside a live panel.