Is a bkr enclosure a switchboard?

[jeremysterling]

I installed a breaker enclosure in an equipment room. It has one 200A 3 pole shunt trip bkr with NO/NC aux contacts. Would this enclosure fall under 110.26(e)? Is it considered a switchboard?

 

[chris kennedy]

Is it considered a switchboard?

IMO no.....

Switchboard. A large single panel, frame, or assembly of panels on which are mounted on the face, back, or both, switches, overcurrent and other protective devices, buses, and usually instruments. Switchboards are generally accessible from the rear as well as from the front and are not intended to be installed in cabinets.

 

[jeremysterling]

Switchboard. A large single panel, frame, or assembly of panels on which are mounted on the face, back, or both, switches, overcurrent and other protective devices, buses, and usually instruments. Switchboards are generally accessible from the rear as well as from the front and are not intended to be installed in cabinets.

Your quote seems to confirm a bkr enclosure is a switchboard. The only point I see is that "devices" is plural. So, if you have 2 bkrs, then it is a switchboard?

What I really need to know is if the 4 square boxes for lighting that I mounted on the wall above the bkr enclosure need to be moved up to 6'6" above the enclosure per 110.26(e)?

I would like to rule out the bkr enclosure as being a panelboard, switchboard, motor control center, or service equipment.

 

[chris kennedy]

not intended to be installed in cabinets.

Cabinet. An enclosure that is designed for either surface mounting or flush mounting and is provided with a frame, mat, or trim in which a swinging door or doors are or can be hung.

What I really need to know is if the 4 square boxes for lighting that I mounted on the wall above the bkr enclosure need to be moved up to 6'6" above the enclosure per 110.26(e)?

See 110.26(A)(3)

 

[jeremysterling]

I did not mount the bkr enclosure in a cabinet. I mounted it on the wall!:grin:

Thank you, Chris. I appreciate the code reference for 110.26(a)(3). The 4 square boxes fit nicely within the 6 inches allowed. Therefore:

My install is legal, but what if I had mounted an 12X12X12 screw cover box on thick strut above the 6" deep bkr enclosure and exceeded the 6 inches from 110.26(a)(3)? Could I argue that 110.26(e) does not apply?

 

[cadpoint]

What I really need to know is if the 4 square boxes for lighting that I mounted on the wall above the bkr enclosure need to be moved up to 6'6" above the enclosure per 110.26(e)?

No, there shouldn't be anything above a disconnect, panel, electrical cabinet or switchboard, as your describing.

A switch as you have described should be mounted at 48" via, AHJ, major building codes, and the ADA standards.

Now if this disconnect is within sight of the device that it disconnects it still can't exist in dedicated space of another electrical device.

It gets real technical to state, but the space above, the depth of the electrical enclosure(s) is dedicated for service conduits. The depth of the panel is dedicated to the ceiling tiles, or all the way to roof is exposed.

Put it another way why would you want to reach over a disconnect to turn off another disconnect device...
Edit: I say enclosures as listed disconnect, panels, electrical cabinets...

 

[jeremysterling]

cadpoint,

the 4 sq boxes are junction boxes for lighting going to a lighting contactor. the lighting contactor is about 110' away...

the bkr enclosure is for elevator equipment.

 

[cadpoint]

cadpoint,

the 4 sq boxes are junction boxes for lighting going to a lighting contactor. the lighting contactor is about 110' away...

the bkr enclosure is for elevator equipment.

I'll stick with my thread response, no I didn't read the article stated.

A junction box is different above or below a disconnect, panel, cabinet, enclosure...

I would not install a switched device as you have stated, in a 4" sq box that is above a disconnect, panel, cabinet, enclosure...

 

[benaround]

jeremy, IMO, a switchboard would not be allowed in an elevator equipment

room, normally ,only wiring for the elevator itself can be installed in the room.

So, even if it was deemed a switchboard, no other equipment would be

wired from that location except for elevator equipment.

 

[LarryFine]

Unless I'm misunderstanding the posts, I think everyone except Jeremy is missing the point of 110.26(A)(3) and 110.26(E) ('05 NEC). They have nothing to do with the space above equipment being dedicated to conduits and the like.

My install is legal, but what if I had mounted an 12X12X12 screw cover box on thick strut above the 6" deep bkr enclosure and exceeded the 6 inches from 110.26(a)(3)? Could I argue that 110.26(e) does not apply?

110.26(A)(3) is about not allowing anything, electrical or otherwise, protruding into the space dedicated to personnel for working space, which could make servicing or repair difficult or hazardous.

110.26(E) is about the workspace height being at least 6'6" or the equipment height, whichever is greater. 110.26(F) is the closest thing to space being dedicated to the electrical installation, which includes the J-boxes.

 

[mdshunk]

I think that there are very few actual "switchboards" in present use, despite what people might call them. A classical switchboard (or a slate) with switches mounted on it. Typically live front (and back).

 

[jeremysterling]

Thank you, benaround, for pointing out the dedicated nature of elevator equipment rooms. Today, I removed the lighting ckts from the room. The only ckts remaining are for equipment room lights, cab lights, elevator recall, one 5-20R GFCI, and FCU's.

Mr. Fine is correct in seeing that I am actually concerned with 110.26(F)(1)(a) Dedicated Electrical Space. Because the 200A shunt trip breaker enclosure will not have many conduits running to it, would I have to dedicate space to it?

Therefore, what I meant to ask: Since this is a breaker enclosure, and not a switchboard, panelboard, distribution board, or motor control center, do I have to comply with 110.26(F)(1)(a)?