Building Disconnect in Bathroom

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W6SJK

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2005 230.70 (A)(2) Prohibits SERVICE disconnects from being installed in ANY bathroom. Yet 225.32 does NOT prohibit a building main disconnect from being installed in a bathroom. Building main disconnects are treated like services in all respects that I can think of, so I would think the intent would be to disallow it. It's just like a service except for metering and ownership of conductors.

Is this an oversight? Your thoughts?
 
I think your definition of "main building disconnect" might be helpful.

If it is a disconnect ahead of many services (required because you'd have more than six disconnects without this main) then it is a service disconnect, and it can't be in a bathroom.

If it's some sort of main disconnect for a detached structure (as a feeder from another service elsewhere), and doesn't contain overcurrent devices, then I see it as being okay for a bathroom. Bad idea, though.
 
Sorry, I should have been more descriptive of my particular situation. It is a panelboard with a main CB that acts as the required building disconnect for a remote building on a school campus. It is a building feeder disconnect, not a "service" disconnect, since there is no service lateral or service point involved. But since the code treats building disconnects like service disconnects in most respects, I am suprised that the 230.70 (A)(2) prohibition is not repeated in 225.32.
 
From your added information, I think it is permitted, but a bad idea.

240.24(E) should say 'all bathrooms', in my opinion, but so far it does not. Your school bathroom is not listed, so it seems like you're okay. (Well, maybe not you yourself. I don't know you. Your proposed installation appears okay to me, that is.)

Interesting.
 
Yes, I think it would meet the letter of the code, but not the intent. After all, what's the point of allowing a building disconnect in an outbuilding bathroom, but not allow a disconnect in a bathroom of a building that happens to contain the service entrance? From a safety standpoint, both serve the same purpose.

What's the opinion of the inspectors that lurk around here? :)
 
sparkie001 said:
What's the opinion of the inspectors that lurk around here? :)
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Yeah, I'm kinda bummed nobody else chimed in on this too. I am by no means an authority on anything. I just Google well.
 
Definition of a bathroom...An area including a basin with one or more of the following: a toilet, a tub, or a shower.......yep! we "lurk" I think the intent is that "quote" a bathroom can be locked out by an individual which would prevent others to readily access the equipment in an emergency situation.
 
dcspector said:
I think the intent is that "quote" a bathroom can be locked out by an individual which would prevent others to readily access the equipment in an emergency situation.
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BINGO! The prize goes to Greg. I did a little research. The paragraph was first added in '96. The EC&M 1996 changes guide mentions "There have been concerns that service equipment located in a bathroom might be inaccessible at just the wrong moment."

It would seem to me that a similar concern exists for the required building disconnect at an outbuilding. Maybe I should submit a revision. :)
 
sparkie001 said:
BINGO! The prize goes to Greg. I did a little research. The paragraph was first added in '96. The EC&M 1996 changes guide mentions "There have been concerns that service equipment located in a bathroom might be inaccessible at just the wrong moment."

It would seem to me that a similar concern exists for the required building disconnect at an outbuilding. Maybe I should submit a revision. :)
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And most electric rooms are kept locked as well as the panel door.I think the rule was added to protect the panel from humidity.
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
And most electric rooms are kept locked as well as the panel door.I think the rule was added to protect the panel from humidity.
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Good point about the electric room. But panelboards are allowed in some bathrooms, so that can't be the answer...
 
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