Emergency Stops

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Electriman

Senior Member
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TX
Greetings,

I have been asked to explore where emergency stops are required in commercial buildings. This is different than disconnect switches. When I looked at the mechanical rooms of commercial buildings I have seen emergency stops installed next to boilers, I have seen them also in pool area, fitness equipment, elevators. I cannot find any where in NEC that mentions the emergency stops being required to install except on the elevators. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with where we need to install the emergency stops to meet the code.

Thank you in advance.
 
Electriman said:
Greetings,

I have been asked to explore where emergency stops are required in commercial buildings. This is different than disconnect switches. When I looked at the mechanical rooms of commercial buildings I have seen emergency stops installed next to boilers, I have seen them also in pool area, fitness equipment, elevators. I cannot find any where in NEC that mentions the emergency stops being required to install except on the elevators. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with where we need to install the emergency stops to meet the code.

Thank you in advance.
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Pool equiment I don't think is in NEC, however there is a requirement to have a stop for spas in non dwelling applications. Boilers is required by other codes, fitness equipment - not NEC, most those you see is likely on the equipment and is listing and/or CPSC requirements I would guess.
 
kwired said:
Pool equiment I don't think is in NEC, however there is a requirement to have a stop for spas in non dwelling applications. Boilers is required by other codes, fitness equipment - not NEC, most those you see is likely on the equipment and is listing and/or CPSC requirements I would guess.
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Thanks for your reply. When I searched NEC I could not find a list of where we need to have emergency stops. Is there anyway that I can find out what CPSC requirements are as far as E-stops?
 
Electriman said:
Thanks for your reply. When I searched NEC I could not find a list of where we need to have emergency stops. Is there anyway that I can find out what CPSC requirements are as far as E-stops?
Click to expand...

Remote E-Stops are a requirement for Generators greater than 15kW as well. (Art. 445)
 
As a general rule, the NEC is not the place to look for those kind of rules. For the most part the NEC is about preventing fires and electrical accidents, not really all aspects of safety. What we call the “NEC” is actually NFPA standard #70, NFPA being the National FIRE Protection Agency.

Safety in the workplace is mote the realm of OSHA standards. That’s where you see requirements for E-Stops more often. But they are a morass if convoluted regulations usually specific to types of machinery or processes. That’s where you get into “safety assessments” being done by either the machinery suppliers or by outside consultants. The point being, it’s not really the electrician who DECIDES whether or not an E-Stop is necessary, we just make sure it is implemented correctly.
 
You could try looking over article 645. Information Technology Equipment
 
Most "disconnecting means" required by NEC can be about any kind of switching device.

Many of the "emergency stop" switches required by other standards may need to be mushroom style operators that you simply push to actuate. Those other standards don't necessarily require opening of all ungrounded conductors like a NEC required disconnect typically does, they just have to stop operation of whatever it is they control. LOTO of disconnecting means may still be required to perform any actions on a machine, the E-stop is not a disconnect it is for emergency stoppage of machinery.
 
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