Acessible means 6 feet high?

[mlnk]

What does accessible mean for a disconnect switch? Can it be 7 feet off the floor? The NEC says not requiring a portable ladder, but what actual height would this be?

 

[Buck Parrish]

If it's a service panel 6'6" to the top of the breaker handle.
The part your reading may pertain to motor, etc disconnects. In this case above 7' is okay if you have to use a ladder to service the equip.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

What does accessible mean for a disconnect switch? Can it be 7 feet off the floor? The NEC says not requiring a portable ladder, but what actual height would this be?

That would be an inspector call. The NEC needs to include a height but it does not. At 7 foot most people could access the disco but a short person would need a ladder-- go figure how that definition has not had any changes to it to specify a distance.

BTW, you are defining readily accesible not accessible.

 

[roger]

See 404.8(A) and the three exceptions, number 3 in particular if applicable.

Roger

 

[tom baker]

See definition for accessible, and accessible readily.
For example, a motor and its controller may have two disconnects.
The disconnect at the motor can be accessible but the controller disconnect has to be readily accessible.
We often see disconnects for transformers installed in a suspended ceiling that require a ladder to access it.