Lock on a Circuit Breaker Disconnect

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royp

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Loxahatchee, FL USA
We have a building with a circuit breaker panel on the exterior
of the building. They are in a high crime area. The owner wants to know if
they are permitted to put a lock on the disconnect switch to prevent it from
being turned off by vandals. We are looking for the code citation that
either prohibits or permits the disconnect to be locked. On the meter socket
can FPL has a big lock. The fire department has a policy does not remove
meters so the lock on the meter can is not an issue. They only will throw the main circuit disconnect.

It appears that the circuit breaker panel enclosures have places for a lock to be installed. But can't find either a prohibition or permission to install a lock on a disconnect.
 
I routinely lock disconnects located on the roofs of my buildings. They are schools and kids sometimes get up there and used to shut off roof top units, freezers, etc. causing losses when food spoiled.
I also have some fused service disconnects for the entire building located outside and I use a lock that can easily be cut by the fire department if needed but keeps the general public from switch.
Our inspector has no issues with those.
 
dpcarls1598 said:
I routinely lock disconnects located on the roofs of my buildings. They are schools and kids sometimes get up there and used to shut off roof top units, freezers, etc. causing losses when food spoiled.
I also have some fused service disconnects for the entire building located outside and I use a lock that can easily be cut by the fire department if needed but keeps the general public from switch.
Our inspector has no issues with those.
Click to expand...

Quite common set up. Worked at a college myself...the boys were trouble.
 
jumper said:
Quite common set up. Worked at a college myself...the boys were trouble.
Click to expand...
Guy that once worked for me admitted to being involved in activity in winter months where they would unplug the engine heaters for school buses night before - late start next day would happen because of "bus troubles".

Probably would face criminal charges today, years ago that was just a good prank.
 
kwired said:
Guy that once worked for me admitted to being involved in activity in winter months where they would unplug the engine heaters for school buses night before - late start next day would happen because of "bus troubles".

Probably would face criminal charges today, years ago that was just a good prank.
Click to expand...

We used to sneak in and take the valve stem inserts out of a few tires.

No great damage but still was not a good thing.:ashamed1:
 
royp said:
We have a building with a circuit breaker panel on the exterior
of the building. They are in a high crime area. The owner wants to know if
they are permitted to put a lock on the disconnect switch to prevent it from
being turned off by vandals. We are looking for the code citation that
either prohibits or permits the disconnect to be locked. On the meter socket
can FPL has a big lock. The fire department has a policy does not remove
meters so the lock on the meter can is not an issue. They only will throw the main circuit disconnect.

It appears that the circuit breaker panel enclosures have places for a lock to be installed. But can't find either a prohibition or permission to install a lock on a disconnect.
Click to expand...

Go ahead and install the lock or if you want build an enclosure around the panel and lock that.
 
We are required to use breakaway locks on all of our sprinkler equipment. They have the appearance of a regular padlock but are much more easily removed by the fire department. You might take a look at those.
 
As others have said, code doesn't prohibit it, but there are some local ordinances that may. In Ocala they require a shunt trip on the outside if the main is inside for a commercial establishment, so I am guessing they may not be receptive to a padlock on an exterior main. For example.
 
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