main disconnect requirement

[stew]

have run across 3 separate instances in town homes,condos,apts where no main disconnect has been installed in subpanels in these units. I thought that was a violation of the six hands rule. Thes units typicalyy will be fed from a 4 or six pac with disconnects at that point but no main in the units. How is this allowed?

 

[ramdiesel3500]

The answer begins in 225.30. Basically, the six-switch rule is for disconnecting all ungrounded conductors that feed power into the "building". So, once you have gone down stream of the "six switches" i.e. a subpanel, then the limit is increased to a maximum of 42 poles per panel enclosure. That is why "main lug only" panels exist. Otherwise all panels would have mains if they had more than six breaker spaces.

 

[jwelectric]

240.24 (B) Occupancy Each occupant shall have ready access to all overcurrent devices protecting the conductors supplying that occupancy.

Exception No. 1: Where electric service and electrical maintenance are provided by the building management and where these are under continuous building management supervision, the service overcurrent devices and feeder overcurrent devices supplying more than one occupancy shall be permitted to be accessible to only authorized management personnel in the following:
(1) Multiple-occupancy buildings
(2) Guest rooms or guest suites of hotels and motels that are intended for transient occupancy

We can have a good debate on this if anyone is willing

 

[infinity]

240.24 (B) Occupancy Each occupant shall have ready access to all overcurrent devices protecting the conductors supplying that occupancy.

If the mains are grouped together on the outside of the building then I see no problem.

 

[celtic]

240.24 (B) Occupancy Each occupant shall have ready access to all overcurrent devices protecting the conductors supplying that occupancy.

Last summer I swapped out a bunch of FPE panel's in a condo.
Panels were all 200A MLO.
Every tenant/owner had a key to the electric room.

This code is also cited/used in other codes (LL/T laws for example).

Not much of a debate to be made on it.