fountain need a disconnect ?

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It's also a public fountain, available to anyone, so I'm pretty sure safety requires the disconnect. The maintenance guy asked us to do something to keep people from turning off the fountain.
 
Is the 680.13 paragraph requiring an accessible disconnect (within sight) in case of someone being in the fountain getting electrocuted ? If so, should I tell the maintenance guy I am not allowed to put a lock on it or bypass the switch ?
 
I think you will need ground fault on all circuits. Assuming there are no lights/signs I'm not sure you need the disconnect. The following is from a spec sheet for Portland. Not sure if it is relevant.


A fountain emergency shutdown switch should be located in the park and be easily
accessible by PP&R or PWB staff. The switch should not be accessible to the public and
should be locked to avoid nuisance shutdowns. Consideration should be given as to
whether the public has access to a phone close-by in case of an emergency.
 
680.13 is for maintenance disconnect, not life safety. I agree with gfci for that.

And the disconnect is required be at least 5 feet from the water as well as within line of sight.
 
Stevenfyeager said:
A customer asked me to remove a switch for a fountain today. I see 680.13 requires a disconnect unless the equipment is 5 feet away. Am I reading this correctly ?
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Disconnect(s)must be provided. The 5ft is the disconnect must be at least that from waters edge or seperated by permanently installed barrier proving atleast 5ft reach path. And as others have mentioned GFCI is a must. 680.15(A) unless all submersible electrical items qualified as "low voltage contact limit".
 
Fred B said:
Disconnect(s)must be provided. The 5ft is the disconnect must be at least that from waters edge or seperated by permanently installed barrier proving atleast 5ft reach path. And as others have mentioned GFCI is a must. 680.15(A) unless all submersible electrical items qualified as "low voltage contact limit".
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Is a gfi test button outlet the pump is plugged into a 'disconnect' ?
 
Stevenfyeager said:
Is the required disconnect for safety or for maintenance ? The maintenance man wants to put a lock on the outside switch box.
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Disconnect is for maintenance and GFCI requirement is for safety. Both are needed, and can be supplied separately (different locations) and by doing that the maintenance disconnect can be locked.
Want disconnect to be able to be locked in on or off position makes LOTO simple.
 
Stevenfyeager said:
He wants it locked on. People (kids) keep turning off the fountain.
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Don't see a problem as long as any maintenance personnel would have access to the keys or they could use a combination lock. It doesn't need to be right at the fountain, it can be some distance just within visual of fountain, would make less obvious to vandalism (kids shutting off). GFCI must be provided though, unless all electrical in fountain is low voltage.
 
Today, the elec. inspector said the outside gfi outlet the pump is plugged into is fine for a disconnect even though the maintenance man will have several screws in the cover to prevent people from charging their cell phones. He said that's fine. Thanks for your advice.
 
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