luminaire disconnects

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iaov

iaov

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Rhinelander WI
Bought a jar of Ideal fixture disconnect plugs at the supply house today for a lighting job I was finnishing up and the counter guy told me that I was the first person to buy any. He said thier supplier had sent them to them at the first of the year and he didn't know why. I explained to him that they became mandatory on Jan. 1, 08. Apparently I'm the only contracter around here that is either aware of the change or cares. I may have let the cat out of the bag as the inspector was wondering what those orange things were.:smile:
 
The fixtures have been coming with them already on since before January, so buying them seems needless. I'm not aware of any requirement that you refit old fixtures with ballast disconnects when you do a ballast changeout, etc.
 
mdshunk said:
The fixtures have been coming with them already on since before January, so buying them seems needless. I'm not aware of any requirement that you refit old fixtures with ballast disconnects when you do a ballast changeout, etc.
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I guess I got old new fixtures.:smile:
 
Ideal disconnects

Ideal disconnects

mdshunk said:
Oh, yeah. I'm definately doing it. On the bill it's a "UL 2459 safety disconnect" and it costs 10 dollars.
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I was at a supply house the other day and there were a cup of orange Ideal luminaire disconnects on the counter. Counter man said salesman wanted him to buy 5000, but they said they could not afford that many!:rolleyes:
 
mdshunk said:
Oh, yeah. I'm definately doing it. On the bill it's a "UL 2459 safety disconnect" and it costs 10 dollars.
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Thanx Marc. Thats what I'm going to call em and thats what I'll charge.:smile:
 
Were being told in Vt. that if we do a ballast change that we have to install a disconnect, I can understand that, if you do a lighting retrofit and change out 500 ballasts it wouldn't make sense to require them only in new fixtures. I'm not sure what the nec intent actually is.
 
Can somebody give me a rundown on this code? I dont own a 2008 NEC yet, and I just bought (70) 8' strip lights to install in a retail space. Do I need to install these disconnects? Ive seen these items in catalogs but have not come to a situation where I may need them until now. Any info would be great
 
2005 code change.


#16. 410.73 GENERAL

This rule was added to require disconnecting means for fluorescent luminaires that have double-ended lamps and contain ballasts. However, it isn't effective until Jan. 1, 2008.

(G) Disconnecting Means. In indoor locations, other than dwellings and associated accessory structures, fluorescent luminaires that utilize double-ended lamps and contain ballast(s) that can be serviced in place or re-ballasted must have a disconnecting means, to disconnect simultaneously all conductors of the ballast, including the grounded (neutral) conductor if any. The disconnecting means must be accessible to qualified persons. This requirement will become effective January 1, 2008 (Basically a 2008 NEC requirement).

Author's Comment: Changing the ballast out while the circuit feeding the luminaire is energized has become a regular practice, because a local disconnect isn't available. Also, ballasts are often serviced from a ladder, adding the possibility of increased injury from a fall. The rule requires the disconnecting means to open ?all circuit conductors,? including the grounded (neutral) conductor. If the grounded (neutral) conductor in a multiwire circuit isn't disconnected at the same time as the ungrounded conductor, a false sense of security could result in an unexpected shock, and its consequences from the grounded (neutral) conductor.

Ex 1: A disconnecting means isn't required for luminaires installed in hazardous (classified) location(s).

Ex 2: A disconnecting means isn't required for emergency illumination required in 700.16.

Ex 3: For cord-and-plug-connected luminaires, an accessible separable connector or an accessible plug and receptacle is permitted to serve as the disconnecting means.

Ex 4: A disconnecting means isn't required in industrial establishments with restricted public access where written procedures and conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified persons service the installation.

Ex 5: Where more than one luminaire is installed and supplied by other than a multiwire branch circuit, a disconnecting means isn't required for every luminaire when the design of the installation includes locally accessible disconnects, such that the illuminated space won't be left in total darkness
 
Maybe I'm missing something here but does anyone else think this will lead to more handymen getting whacked.The scenario I have going in my mind is ballast goes handyman wonders what the funny thing connecting the wires is. Cuts fancy disconect off live ,skins live wires ect
 
Jerseydaze said:
Maybe I'm missing something here but does anyone else think this will lead to more handymen getting whacked.The scenario I have going in my mind is ballast goes handyman wonders what the funny thing connecting the wires is. Cuts fancy disconect off live ,skins live wires ect
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These "handymen" would do the same thing with wirenuts.
 
I am on my second jug and the new fixture just started to come with them..I don't like the factory ones I have a hard time working them and will the new ballast come with the same connector..Probabully not so it really defeats the purpose of the connector..
 
JohnJ0906 said:
These "handymen" would do the same thing with wirenuts.
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Yes but isn't it safer to pull a ballast wire off a splice then cut a disconnect and skin a live wire maybe I'm splitting hairs
 
stickboy1375 said:
2005 code change.


#16. 410.73 GENERAL

This rule was added to require disconnecting means for fluorescent luminaires that have double-ended lamps and contain ballasts. However, it isn't effective until Jan. 1, 2008.

(G) Disconnecting Means. In indoor locations, other than dwellings and associated accessory structures, fluorescent luminaires that utilize double-ended lamps and contain ballast(s) that can be serviced in place or re-ballasted must have a disconnecting means, to disconnect simultaneously all conductors of the ballast, including the grounded (neutral) conductor if any. The disconnecting means must be accessible to qualified persons. This requirement will become effective January 1, 2008 (Basically a 2008 NEC requirement).

Author's Comment: Changing the ballast out while the circuit feeding the luminaire is energized has become a regular practice, because a local disconnect isn't available. Also, ballasts are often serviced from a ladder, adding the possibility of increased injury from a fall. The rule requires the disconnecting means to open ?all circuit conductors,? including the grounded (neutral) conductor. If the grounded (neutral) conductor in a multiwire circuit isn't disconnected at the same time as the ungrounded conductor, a false sense of security could result in an unexpected shock, and its consequences from the grounded (neutral) conductor.

Ex 1: A disconnecting means isn't required for luminaires installed in hazardous (classified) location(s).

Ex 2: A disconnecting means isn't required for emergency illumination required in 700.16.

Ex 3: For cord-and-plug-connected luminaires, an accessible separable connector or an accessible plug and receptacle is permitted to serve as the disconnecting means.

Ex 4: A disconnecting means isn't required in industrial establishments with restricted public access where written procedures and conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified persons service the installation.

Ex 5: Where more than one luminaire is installed and supplied by other than a multiwire branch circuit, a disconnecting means isn't required for every luminaire when the design of the installation includes locally accessible disconnects, such that the illuminated space won't be left in total darkness
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ex 5: can i get an interpretation on ex 5

do you have an example where this exemption is allowed?
thanks
 
steveng said:
ex 5: can i get an interpretation on ex 5

do you have an example where this exemption is allowed?
thanks
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Yeah, that's an easy one. A large room with many fixtures on many switches/disconnects. Shut off the switch for the one(s) you're working on, and leave the other switches on so that you're not in the dark.
 
Ex 5: Where more than one luminaire is installed and supplied by other than a multiwire branch circuit, a disconnecting means isn't required for every luminaire when the design of the installation includes locally accessible disconnects, such that the illuminated space won't be left in total darkness

I would say if you wire a lighting circuit not on a MWBC and you use two light swiitchs in a room you do not need to use the disconnects..
 
Jerseydaze said:
Yes but isn't it safer to pull a ballast wire off a splice then cut a disconnect and skin a live wire maybe I'm splitting hairs
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Why are you cutting the disconnect at all?
I simply do not understand what you are talking about. :confused:
All work is done on the load side of the disconnect - no live work at all.
 
frogneck77 said:
Can somebody give me a rundown on this code? I dont own a 2008 NEC yet, and I just bought (70) 8' strip lights to install in a retail space. Do I need to install these disconnects? Ive seen these items in catalogs but have not come to a situation where I may need them until now. Any info would be great
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The 2005 CT State Building Code has removed 410.73 (G)

http://www.ct.gov/dps/lib/dps/office_of_state_building_inspector_files/2005_state_building_code.pdf
pg. 115
 
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