Location For Disconnects

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infinity said:
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.
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Any one who has ever had to service on of those cramped units is swearing at the wiring inspector for not enforcing 110.26.

I see it all the time (when another permit is filed) the original electrician installs the disconnect for a final in December (plenty of clearance) and in June the HVAC people drop the units in front of the disconnect.

There has to be a break point where there is some communication between the disiplines .
 
cpal said:
Any one who has ever had to service on of those cramped units is swearing at the wiring inspector for not enforcing 110.26.

I see it all the time (when another permit is filed) the original electrician installs the disconnect for a final in December (plenty of clearance) and in June the HVAC people drop the units in front of the disconnect.

There has to be a break point where there is some communication between the disiplines .
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Yes and its the inspectors that could make this happen.Start red tagging and the two will start to work this out.If Mr AC sets his unit in front of my disconnect i would make him move it.
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
Yes and its the inspectors that could make this happen.Start red tagging and the two will start to work this out.If Mr AC sets his unit in front of my disconnect i would make him move it.
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Does anyone on this fourm know what a D9 is?

See the attached picture on how to handle those units set in front of a disconnect
 
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440.14 only requires the disconnect to be readily accessible, 110.26 does not apply, the problem is 440.14 will allow many interpretations
 
I always enforced 110.26 for air cond. disconnects, a contractor challenged me on it, and I was told by the state I work in that they had got an interpretation from NFPA and 440.14 applies to air cond. disconnect, and I could not cite 110.26 for an air cond. disconnect.
 
mpd said:
I always enforced 110.26 for air cond. disconnects, a contractor challenged me on it, and I was told by the state I work in that they had got an interpretation from NFPA and 440.14 applies to air cond. disconnect, and I could not cite 110.26 for an air cond. disconnect.
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Would love to have a copy of that letter as its just starting to be pushed here.
 
mpd said:
I always enforced 110.26 for air cond. disconnects, a contractor challenged me on it, and I was told by the state I work in that they had got an interpretation from NFPA and 440.14 applies to air cond. disconnect, and I could not cite 110.26 for an air cond. disconnect.
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Boy I would sure like to see that.

I can't see anyway that 110.26 can be 'interpreted' away.
 
LarryFine said:
In my opinion, this is a responsibility of the GC.
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It is but he wont push it unless the inspector does.Want to see this change ? It has been violated for more than the 25 years i been wiring.Red tag it and it will stop real fast.Dont tag it and nothing will ever change.
 
I agree with the tact that 110.26 is applicable for these installations

But for many installations the condensers are not installed untill long after the electrical inspector has signed off.

Charlie
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
It is but he wont push it unless the inspector does.
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What I mean is: the GC is the one who is supposed to coordinate the different contractors, and to make sure that, for example, when the HVAC comes back later, he doesn't cause a problem with pre-existing equipment. The GC should make the HVAC guy move the unit.
 
I am not sure why this is such a problem with electrical people.
I also see this alot, and I call it each time. Maybe the GC's or HVAC contractors should get this violation, with a fee attached to it (steep enough to get their attention) so as to have this issue be on everyones mind. Then planning will help to reduce this to a minimum in the future.
 
LarryFine said:
What I mean is: the GC is the one who is supposed to coordinate the different contractors, and to make sure that, for example, when the HVAC comes back later, he doesn't cause a problem with pre-existing equipment. The GC should make the HVAC guy move the unit.
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He should and will but not untill he needs to.Tag it and someone will move.Many GC are clueless to codes for ac and electric.Inspections are what brings compliance.
 
Dennis Franklin said:
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
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Does the disconnect have any fuses or circuit breakers in it? If not, the clearence requirements in 110.26 do not apply in regards to working clearences.
 
McDowellb said:
Does the disconnect have any fuses or circuit breakers in it? If not, the clearence requirements in 110.26 do not apply in regards to working clearences.
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Where in 110.26 does it say that fuses or CB's are required for the working spaces to apply?
 
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