I need help understanding this TIA

[Dennis Alwon]

I must be getting old as I am not certain what this means or how it is possible. It is a TIA

1. Revise paragraph 215.15 to read as follows: 215.15 Barriers. Barriers shall be placed such that no energized, uninsulated, ungrounded busbar or terminal is exposed to inadvertent contact by persons or maintenance equipment while servicing load terminations in panelboards, switchboards, switchgear, or motor control centers supplied by feeder taps in 240.21(B) or transformer secondary conductors in 240.21(C) when the disconnecting device, to which the tap conductors are terminated, is in the open position.

 

[infinity]

This is a revision? What did the original wording say?

 

[Sea Nile]

I think it's saying there should be no way to accidentally touch energized parts in a panel when the main OCPD is off. But I'm not sure.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

All the TIA did is to add the word "energized" to that section. The rest of that was added in the first draft and slightly modified in the second draft.
Here is the second draft version.

215.15 Barriers.
Barriers shall be placed such that no uninsulated, ungrounded busbar or terminal is exposed to inadvertent contact by persons or maintenance equipment while servicing load terminations in panelboards, switchboards, switchgear, or motor control centers supplied by feeder taps in 240.21(B) or transformer secondary conductors in 240.21(C) when the disconnecting device, to which the tap conductors are terminated, is in the open position.

215.15 is new to the 2023 code, and adds the "service type" barriers to equipment that is supplied by a feeder that originates as a feeder tap, or from a transformer secondary.
The panel statement that accepted this change said:

This revision adds a new section to reduce the hazards that exist when creating an electrically safe work condition in equipment supplied by tap conductors. The new requirement for barriers to provide protection against inadvertent contact mirrors the requirements in 230.62(C). This requirement is limited to panelboards, switchboards, switchgear, or motor control centers supplied by feeder taps in 240.21(B) or transformer secondary conductors in 240.21(C). Where the tap rules are applied, it is unlikely that the source of supply to the OCPD can be deenergized during maintenance and other tasks. This revision ensures the exposed energized parts on the line side of the OCPD are protected against inadvertent contact. When the disconnecting device to which the tap conductors are terminated is in the open position, the likelihood of contact with energized parts is significantly reduced.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

So it basically saying we need to put some type of plastic caps over the lugs on a main lug panel?

 

[GoldDigger]

So it basically saying we need to put some type of plastic caps over the lugs on a main lug panel?

Or go the Canadian route and have a separate compartment for the incoming termination and main breaker? With a separate cover that does not need to be removed to deal with branch (load) circuits or breakers.

 

[jim dungar]

Or go the Canadian route and have a separate compartment for the incoming termination and main breaker? With a separate cover that does not need to be removed to deal with branch (load) circuits or breakers.

But then wouldn't we need to mount our panels sideways like they do in Canada or give up having branch circuits on the same end as the main?

 

[wwhitney]

But then wouldn't we need to mount our panels sideways like they do in Canada or give up having branch circuits on the same end as the main?

The compartment for the supply terminations could be narrower than the full panel width, depending on bending space requirements, etc.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[macmikeman]

They put a separate package with little plastic guards inside every cardboard box with a meter/main or panel board nowadays . ( at least Eaton does..... ). So far I've never bothered with them.