Location For Disconnects

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Dennis Franklin

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Hi everyone.... Just received a correction notice for having the outside disconnect for a slab-mounted ac unit for a residence located on the wall just over the edge of the ac unit, above it about 4 feet from the ground. The inspector quoted article 110-26 II for the violation. I used article 440.14 for determining the location. Whichof these articles apply to residentual ac units, mounted outside the residence on the ground??? Thanks for your help, gotta get these new inspectors trained!!! Dennis Franklin in New Mexico
 
Let's look at 440.14

440.14 Location.
Disconnecting means shall be located within sight from and readily accessible from the air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment.

Accessible, Readily (Readily Accessible). Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to climb over or remove obstacles or to resort to portable ladders, and so forth.

How does this sound?
 
Nec 440.14

Nec 440.14

jwelectric said:
Let's look at 440.14

440.14 Location.
Disconnecting means shall be located within sight from and readily accessible from the air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment.

Accessible, Readily (Readily Accessible). Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to climb over or remove obstacles or to resort to portable ladders, and so forth.

How does this sound?
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Hi, Mike. All of the above was complied with, disconnect was just over the edge of the ac unit less than 6 inches. Correction notice quoted 110.26 and ignored 440.14... a copy of this will be in our local electrician's newsletter, lotsa ec's will be checking it out, as this also applies to disconnects for things like commercial water heaters, etc.which with the way some appliances are crowded in a utility room, the clearances required in 110.26 are near impossible to comply with, especially when the mechanical guys come in after the disconnects are instaled, and most of the time they could care less if they maintain a required distance from the appliance disconnect, and usually the ec has to move the disconnect, instead of the mechanical stuff, since we get the violation instead of them....
 
Appliance disconnect requirements

Appliance disconnect requirements

bphgravity said:
110.26 still applies and is open to interpretation of the AHJ... so both apply
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Hi, these two articles in NEC are in direct conflict with each other, one applies to Service Equipment, and the other applies to appliance maintenance disconnect requirements. If both apply, then why have article 440.14??? 110.26 II is much more stringent, and exceeds any requirements of 440.14..... It seems 440.14 was and is specifically written for guidance for "Air Conditioning and Refrigerating Equipment", and 110.26 was written for "Electrical Equipment", a fairly generic term. Perhaps a clearer definition of the two, which in article 100 includes "appliances" in the definition of "Equipment" (which we assume should mean electrical equipment), so perhaps an exception is in order for 110.26 for appliance disconnects.... but in the meantime, what's the solution???
 
If You do not have a 30" wide and 36" deep working clearance /clear I would not train these "new Inspectors"......110.26 05' NEC
 
110.26 still applies. 440.14 just gives additional requirements for the location. For example, it tells you the disconnect can't be on the North side of the house when the condenser is on the South side. (Nothing in 110.26 would prevent you from doing that).

There is a general rule that chapters 1-3 apply to all installations, unless modified or changed by the other chapters. But nothing in 440.14 specifically says you can forget 110.26.

For an example of a specific exception, I found 630.32(A). It covers overcurrent protection for a welder. But you also have to provide overcurrent protection for the welder supply conductors per article 240. However, the last sentance gives a specific exception to the article 240 requirements.

Hope that helps.
Steve
 
How many of us have examined, adjusted, serviced or maintained a residential HVAC disconnect? If you did in fact do this, did you do it without switching off the upstream breaker? and if so why? So how likely is this? and how do we determine the likelyability of it in the first place.
 
Assume the most likely scenario. Most a/c techs or electricians are likely to test voltage at disconnecting means when troubleshooting or servicing equipment.
 
For the 2005 State Code, New Mexico exempts disconnects that do not provide overcurrent, overload, short circuit, or ground fault protection, from having the clearances of 110.26. They recognize that many disconnects aren't "maintained" although clearly a fused disconnect could require maintenance.

Jim T
 
stars13bars2 said:
How many of us have examined, adjusted, serviced or maintained a residential HVAC disconnect? If you did in fact do this, did you do it without switching off the upstream breaker? and if so why? So how likely is this? and how do we determine the likelyability of it in the first place.
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I have highlighted one word in your quote with bold type.
Now if you have ever used the disconnect to turn off the branch circuit to the unit (the reason it is required) you have adjusted the disconnect.

To answer your question, I have many times.
 
Mike,

Do you really believe that operating a device is the same as adjusting the device?

Do you maintain 110.26 clearances around every light switch? What about plugs and receptacles?
 
jim dungar said:
Mike,

Do you really believe that operating a device is the same as adjusting the device?

Do you maintain 110.26 clearances around every light switch? What about plugs and receptacles?
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I'm with Jim. Adjusting isn't the same as operating. But the disconnect still needs the required clearances. If I'm troubleshooting an AC unit the first thing that I do is check for the proper voltage at the disconnect. This would be, IMO examination which is part of the requirement of 110.26(A).
 
Jim,
Do you maintain 110.26 clearances around every light switch? What about plugs and receptacles?
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You point out one big problem with this code section...the fact that it applies to all electrical equiment and 110.26 actually prohibits the installation of the kitchen counter receptacles that are required by 210.52. The CMP has its head in the sand and refuses to accept proposals that place resonable limits on the equipment that 110.26 applies to.
Don
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
Jim,

You point out one big problem with this code section...the fact that it applies to all electrical equiment and 110.26 actually prohibits the installation of the kitchen counter receptacles that are required by 210.52. The CMP has its head in the sand and refuses to accept proposals that place resonable limits on the equipment that 110.26 applies to.
Don
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Well said Don. I think of all of the AC units, VAV's, and fan power boxes that are installed above hung ceilings in commercial buildings. These things never have the required clearances. Anyone who has had to wire one using a mirror because the access panel faced an I-beam or a piece of ductwork will tell you that 110.26 is a farce.
 
The simplist remedy is install a breaker lock out at the panel.Locked out clearance for working on energized equiptment is out the door.As long as the pull out can be opened for service problem solved.
 
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