breaker required

[bwyllie]

In an apartment building there is a 70A, three-phase, four-wire feeder that runs up the building and the load centers in the apartments are fed from this feeder w/ single-phase feeders alternating among the phases. Load centers were rated 100A, single-phase. As this is an existing building I could not see the feeders sizes. Assuming the load centers are fed with a minimum of 70A wire, does each load center require a main circuit breaker? the apt building has under 24Hr maintance.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

The tenants must have access to the breakers that feed that occupancy. art. 240.24(B)

240.24 Location in or on Premises.
(B) Occupancy. Each occupant shall have ready access to all overcurrent devices protecting the conductors supplying that occupancy, unless otherwise permitted in 240.24(B)(1) and (B)(2).

IMO< the main breaker does not need be in the panel but the breaker needs to be accessible to the tenant.