Daiseychaining outlets in an Industrial Facility

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stovring

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In our missile production plant, process floor, we experience many instances of personnel plugging in devices from one workbench to another workbench and then to an overhead electrical grid system. Where or what is the code section that might address this procedure and meeting compliance? Saying it is wrong means nothing without the proper citations.

Cordially,
Stovring in Tucson:confused:
 
stovring, Can you break that down some ? Are you talking about extention

cords ? I don't understand " plugging in devices from one workbench to

another workbench".
 
Daisychaining

Daisychaining

We had this discussion before, but it was about daisy chaining power strips. The strips are not listed to be chained, but as far as NEC, I don't know if it is regulated. Anyone confirm???
 
benaround said:
stovring, Can you break that down some ? Are you talking about extention

cords ? I don't understand " plugging in devices from one workbench to

another workbench".
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If it's an assembly line constructed of 6' or 8' benches side by side, one cord from one strip will reach to your next door neighbors strip, that is how I took it. I can't quote anything out of the NEC in that matter, but I believe it was confirmed that UL wouldn't list it.
 
480sparky said:
The NEC stops at the receptacle. After that, it doesn't care if you plug in 100 strips together.
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The UL listing does not cover doing so, but UL has no authority to prevent you from doing anything, and as another poster mentioned, the NEC effectively ends at the receptacle (at least in this case).
 
Mr Holt had an article about this somewhere.

Plug in strip terminals are called, I believe, relocatable power taps.
Either the listing for them, or the manufacturer's instructions (can't remember which), prohibits plugging one into the next (if this is in fact what the OP was about - not sure). Not an NEC issue, but definitely violates the manufacturers instructions, making that use unsuitable or a liability issue at the very least.
 
nakulak said:
Mr Holt had an article about this somewhere.

Plug in strip terminals are called, I believe, relocatable power taps.
Either the listing for them, or the manufacturer's instructions (can't remember which), prohibits plugging one into the next (if this is in fact what the OP was about - not sure). Not an NEC issue, but definitely violates the manufacturers instructions, making that use unsuitable or a liability issue at the very least.
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What makes you think it is either? Just because it is not listed for a specific purpose does not make it a liability.

UL limits cords to 6' in length in most cases. Is there truely a liability in plugging it in to an extension cord so it reaches an outlet?
 
petersonra said:
What makes you think it is either? Just because it is not listed for a specific purpose does not make it a liability.

UL limits cords to 6' in length in most cases. Is there truely a liability in plugging it in to an extension cord so it reaches an outlet?
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UL White Book said:
RELOCATABLE POWER TAPS (XBYS)
USE AND INSTALLATION
This category covers relocatable power taps rated 250 V ac or less, 20 A or
less. They are intended for indoor use as relocatable multiple outlet extensions
of a single branch circuit to supply laboratory equipment, home workshops,
home movie lighting controls, musical instrumentation, and to provide
outlet receptacles for computers, audio and video equipment, and
other equipment. They consist of one attachment plug and a single length of
flexible cord terminated in a single enclosure in which one or more receptacles
are mounted. They may, in addition, be provided with fuses or other
supplementary overcurrent protection, switches, suppression components
and/or indicator lights in any combination, or connections for cable, communications,
telephone and/or antenna.
Relocatable power taps are intended to be directly connected to a permanently
installed branch circuit receptacle. Relocatable power taps are not
intended to be series connected (daisy chained) to other relocatable power
taps or to extension cords.
Relocatable power taps are not intended for use at construction sites and
similar locations.
Relocatable power taps are not intended to be permanently secured to
building structures, tables, work benches or similar structures, nor are they
intended to be used as a substitute for fixed wiring. The cords of relocatable
power taps are not intended to be routed through walls, windows, ceilings,
floors or similar openings.
Relocatable power taps have not been investigated and are not intended
for use with general patient care areas or critical patient care areas of health
care facilities as defined in Article 517 of ANSI/NFPA 70,
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From the UL white book
 
petersonra said:
UL limits cords to 6' in length in most cases. Is there truely a liability in plugging it in to an extension cord so it reaches an outlet?
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SL Waber and others make plug strips with 15 ft cords. We keep them in stock in our inventory, great for an old building with limited receptacles. Fire-building and electrical like plug strips due to built in OCP. The plug strip must be used according to its listing, you can't plug one into another, not sure if can fasten the cord to the surface, don't think that is allowed.
 
tom baker said:
SL Waber and others make plug strips with 15 ft cords. We keep them in stock in our inventory, great for an old building with limited receptacles. Fire-building and electrical like plug strips due to built in OCP. The plug strip must be used according to its listing, you can't plug one into another, not sure if can fasten the cord to the surface, don't think that is allowed.
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What enforceable code requires this for such a device? Such a device is clearly outside the scope of the NEC, and in fact the UL listing seems to make a point of that by saying it can't be used as a substitute for permanent wiring. That certainly strongly implies it is outside the scope of the NEC, if not outright saying so.
 
petersonra said:
What enforceable code requires this for such a device? Such a device is clearly outside the scope of the NEC, and in fact the UL listing seems to make a point of that by saying it can't be used as a substitute for permanent wiring. That certainly strongly implies it is outside the scope of the NEC, if not outright saying so.
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I agree with you that it is outside the scope of the NEC.

If you feel strongly about this, feel free to daisy chain power taps all over your home and office. When your boss/landlord/neighbors want to know why everything is charred, explain to them that you felt that the listing was unenforceable, and you don't feel any liablity whatsoever in using them however you felt necessary.
 
nakulak said:
I agree with you that it is outside the scope of the NEC.

If you feel strongly about this, feel free to daisy chain power taps all over your home and office. When your boss/landlord/neighbors want to know why everything is charred, explain to them that you felt that the listing was unenforceable, and you don't feel any liablity whatsoever in using them however you felt necessary.
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What makes you think such an installation would result in a fire hazard? I am not saying it is a good idea, but in and of itself, it does not introduce a fire or any other hazard.
 
wasasparky said:
...not intended...not intended...not intended...

Could they use any weaker language?
Does "not intended" mean "not allowed"?:-?
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not intended means not intended. UL has no power whatsoever to regulate the usage of the products they list.
 
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