NEC 110.26(A) working space requirements to a 60A non-fused disconnect should not apply?

[B677]

What are your thoughts on this:

The code mandates working space for electrical equipment “likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized.”

A non-fused disconnect for an AC unit is between the AC and the main panel and its purpose is to isolate the condenser for service. There is no need to examine, service, adjust or maintain a non-fused disconnect while it is energized. Want to check the voltage you say? Well do that at the breaker in the main panel or at the AC unit, then determine if you need to pop open the on/off switch (the non-fused disconnect)

There are homes with non-fused disconnects, from the 80s that are still in use. It is not likely that one of these will be “likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized.” under normal conditions. There is no OCPD, no exposed energized parts with the cover on, nothing to adjust while energized, Schneider Electric’s safety guidelines, aligned with NFPA 70E, recommend that maintenance tasks—such as inspecting terminals or tightening connections be performed only when de-energized, following lockout/tagout procedures.

Thoughts ?

 

[Jaybone812]

What are your thoughts on this:

The code mandates working space for electrical equipment “likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized.”

A non-fused disconnect for an AC unit is between the AC and the main panel and its purpose is to isolate the condenser for service. There is no need to examine, service, adjust or maintain a non-fused disconnect while it is energized. Want to check the voltage you say? Well do that at the breaker in the main panel or at the AC unit, then determine if you need to pop open the on/off switch (the non-fused disconnect)

There are homes with non-fused disconnects, from the 80s that are still in use. It is not likely that one of these will be “likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized.” under normal conditions. There is no OCPD, no exposed energized parts with the cover on, nothing to adjust while energized, Schneider Electric’s safety guidelines, aligned with NFPA 70E, recommend that maintenance tasks—such as inspecting terminals or tightening connections be performed only when de-energized, following lockout/tagout procedures.

I’m in agreement with you but Regardless how we feel about it 440.14 in 2023 nec requires 110.26(a) working space for ac disconnects fused or non fused whether it’s likely to be examined or serviced while energized or not the rule requires 110.26(a) clear working space
But 2026 nec adds a exception it’s 440.14 exception 3 for resi non fusible ac disconnects 250 volts or less 60 amps or less only need to be within sight and accessible
Rather than have 110.26(a) clear working space

 

[jim dungar]

recommend that maintenance tasks—such as inspecting terminals or tightening connections be performed only when de-energized, following lockout/tagout procedures.

How do you know the equipment is actually deenergized without putting a meter on its terminals, per NFPA70E and OSHA?

Doesn't measuring voltage require you to have the appropriate working clearances?

 

[Jaybone812]

How do you know the equipment is actually deenergized without putting a meter on its terminals, per NFPA70E and OSHA?

Doesn't measuring voltage require you to have the appropriate working clearances?

Yessir , part of NFPA 70E 120.5 I believe it is , is testing voltage , then verifying the absence of voltage both are part of the LOTA process and part of establishing a electrically safe working condition and which is technically examination and would require 110.26(a) working space
He cant say the space should not be required then say lock it out and make sure its deenergized because there’s a whole process for that which requires examination
IMO I don’t think 110.26(a) working space should be required for non fused ac disconnects and I like the exception 2026 is adding to 440.14 for resi no. Fused disconnects
Simply because 110.26(a) space is technically required for ac and refrigeration equipment controls anyways so any testing and examination can be done at the unit
That’s my take on it

 

[B677]

How do you know the equipment is actually deenergized without putting a meter on its terminals, per NFPA70E and OSHA?

Doesn't measuring voltage require you to have the appropriate working clearances?

If you flip the disconnect to the off position and still have power to the condenser then you know something is up in the disconnect. At that point you can kill the breaker to it and check for voltage then open it up and see what the heck is going on. I think its very rare you would have to work on a live non-fused disconnect and as you have reasonable access - say its behind the condenser but two feet above it for easy access and you can't put it to the right because you have a door that might swing into it and on the left you have a hose bib that might spray water onto it from the bottom.

My issue is that you can't always get 30" side to side and 3' in front due to site conditions

 

[B677]

Yessir , part of NFPA 70E 120.5 I believe it is , is testing voltage , then verifying the absence of voltage both are part of the LOTA process and part of establishing a electrically safe working condition and which is technically examination and would require 110.26(a) working space
He cant say the space should not be required then say lock it out and make sure its deenergized because there’s a whole process for that which requires examination
IMO I don’t think 110.26(a) working space should be required for non fused ac disconnects and I like the exception 2026 is adding to 440.14 for resi no. Fused disconnects
Simply because 110.26(a) space is technically required for ac and refrigeration equipment controls anyways so any testing and examination can be done at the unit
That’s my take on it

Good points

To clarify, the disconnect will almost never be serviced and of it needs to be the breaker that feeds it can be flipped off. Absence of voltage can be verified at the condenser then at the disconnect for peace of mind.

Sometimes you can have a disconnect in a place where field conditions might not easily allow 30" and 3'. Say you mount the disconnect at 5' behind the condenser and still accessible to a tech or electrician to easily shut off and reasonably be able to service

 

[Jaybone812]

Good points

To clarify, the disconnect will almost never be serviced and of it needs to be the breaker that feeds it can be flipped off. Absence of voltage can be verified at the condenser then at the disconnect for peace of mind.

Sometimes you can have a disconnect in a place where field conditions might not easily allow 30" and 3'. Say you mount the disconnect at 5' behind the condenser and still accessible to a tech or electrician to easily shut off and reasonably be able to service

Ok we are on the same page then , I misunderstood you , I thought you were talking about examination of the disconnect and confirming voltage and the absence of voltage at the disconnect , but I guess I misunderstood , you were saying the same thing I was correct? Which is since 110.26(a) working space is already required for the ac units wiring compartment/controls examination /testing to establish ESWC (70E 120.6) can be done at the unit and there’s no reason to examine the disconnect while energized
to me it seems like that’s a logical and the cmp obviously has at least a similar thought process or 440.14 exception 3 would not omit 110.26(a) working space for residential non fused disconnects
Still need working space required by 110.26 parent text so we can safely get to and operate the disconnect, but only accessible and within sight

 

[B677]

Ok we are on the same page then , I misunderstood you , I thought you were talking about examination of the disconnect and confirming voltage and the absence of voltage at the disconnect , but I guess I misunderstood , you were saying the same thing I was correct? Which is since 110.26(a) working space is already required for the ac units wiring compartment/controls examination /testing to establish ESWC (70E 120.6) can be done at the unit and there’s no reason to examine the disconnect while energized
to me it seems like that’s a logical and the cmp obviously has at least a similar thought process or 440.14 exception 3 would not omit 110.26(a) working space for residential non fused disconnects
Still need working space required by 110.26 parent text so we can safely get to and operate the disconnect, but only accessible and within sight

Yep, I think we are on the same page. Thanks for your input.

This came up because I because an inspector said you must have 30" side to side as a homeowner might lean on the condenser while working on the live disconnect and get shocked. I guess anything is possible.

 

[Jaybone812]

No problem
What code cycle are you on, 2023 is the only cycle that has specifically called out the requirement for 110.26(a) working space for the disconnect

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Yessir , part of NFPA 70E 120.5 I believe it is , is testing voltage , then verifying the absence of voltage both are part of the LOTA process and part of establishing a electrically safe working condition and which is technically examination and would require 110.26(a) working space
He cant say the space should not be required then say lock it out and make sure its deenergized because there’s a whole process for that which requires examination
IMO I don’t think 110.26(a) working space should be required for non fused ac disconnects and I like the exception 2026 is adding to 440.14 for resi no. Fused disconnects
Simply because 110.26(a) space is technically required for ac and refrigeration equipment controls anyways so any testing and examination can be done at the unit
That’s my take on it

That exception does not change the 110.26(A) work space requirements. It only changes readily accessible to accessible. There was no mention of eliminating the 110.26(A) work space in the substantiation or the panel statement for SR-8079.

 

[wwhitney]

That exception does not change the 110.26(A) work space requirements. It only changes readily accessible to accessible.

Then it is poorly written. The verbiage in Exception No 2 expresses the above idea much more clearly.

The way Exception No 3 is written, without specifying which of the previous requirements is being excepted, and furthermore repeating one of the requirements in the parent text which is unchanged, can be seen as suggesting that all of the parent text is excepted, and Exception No. 3 constitutes a full list of the requirements that apply to the specified equipment.

The full text of 2026 NEC Second Draft 440.14 is below.

Cheers, Wayne

440.14 Location.

Disconnecting means shall be located within sight from, and readily accessible from, the air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment. The disconnecting means shall be permitted to be installed on or within the air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment. Disconnecting means shall meet the working space requirements of 110.26(A).

The disconnecting means shall not be located on panels that are designed to allow access to the air-conditioning or refrigeration equipment or where it obscures the equipment nameplate(s).

Exception No. 1: Where the disconnecting means provided in accordance with 430.102(A) is lockable open in accordance with 110.25 and the refrigerating or air-conditioning equipment is essential to an industrial process in a facility with written safety procedures, and where the conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified persons service the equipment, a disconnecting means within sight from the equipment shall not be required.

Exception No. 2: Where an attachment plug and receptacle serve as the disconnecting means in accordance with 440.13, their location shall be accessible but shall not be required to be readily accessible.

Exception No. 3: Residential nonfused single-phase disconnecting means rated 250 volts or less and not exceeding 60 amperes shall be in sight from the equipment and accessible.

 

[Rick 0920]

Would you guys think the clearances mentioned in 110.26(a) would be required if a 2 pole 30A toggle switch were located at the outside condensing unit to serve as the disconnecting means and the overcurrent protection was provided by the breaker in the panel?

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Would you guys think the clearances mentioned in 110.26(a) would be required if a 2 pole 30A toggle switch were located at the outside condensing unit to serve as the disconnecting means and the overcurrent protection was provided by the breaker in the panel?

Yes

 

[Jaybone812]

That exception does not change the 110.26(A) work space requirements. It only changes readily accessible to accessible. There was no mention of eliminating the 110.26(A) work space in the substantiation or the panel statement for SR-8079.

I just read the panel statement and SR-8079 and you are definitely correct it does not mention anything about 110.26(a) working space. But I’d have to agree with Wayne that if that’s the case and 110.26(a) working space is still required it’s a poorly written exception
I read 440.14 exception 3 as being the location requirements as a whole specific to resi single phase non fusible disconnects 60 amps or less less than 250 volts to ground

 

[Jaybone812]

I just read the panel statement and SR-8079 and you are definitely correct it does not mention anything about 110.26(a) working space. But I’d have to agree with Wayne that if that’s the case and 110.26(a) working space is still required it’s a poorly written exception
I read 440.14 exception 3 as being the location requirements as a whole specific to resi single phase non fusible disconnects 60 amps or less less than 250 volts to ground

Edit” less than 250 volts “ not 250 volts to ground

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I just read the panel statement and SR-8079 and you are definitely correct it does not mention anything about 110.26(a) working space. But I’d have to agree with Wayne that if that’s the case and 110.26(a) working space is still required it’s a poorly written exception
I read 440.14 exception 3 as being the location requirements as a whole specific to resi single phase non fusible disconnects 60 amps or less less than 250 volts to ground

They were very careful to say that the 110.26(A) rules when the presented on the 2026 code at SuperCode in Plymouth a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Jaybone812]

They were very careful to say that the 110.26(A) rules when the presented on the 2026 code at SuperCode in Plymouth a couple of weeks ago.u

Unfortunately I missed the super code had a prior commitment ahd was not happy about it , haven’t been since 2022
Wasn’t doubting you at all just feel the expectation could’ve been worded better since 110.26(a) working space does apply
Thanks for the clarification

 

[B677]

No problem
What code cycle are you on, 2023 is the only cycle that has specifically called out the requirement for 110.26(a) working space for the disconnect

2020 NEC

 

[B677]

Would you guys think the clearances mentioned in 110.26(a) would be required if a 2 pole 30A toggle switch were located at the outside condensing unit to serve as the disconnecting means and the overcurrent protection was provided by the breaker in the panel?

I was actually wondering the same thing

Inspector says main concern is for the homeowner but homeowner has access to main panel inside to kill the power for any "maintenance" they might have to do. I have seen non-fused disconnects from the 80s that never needed maintenance

 

[B677]

Would you guys think the clearances mentioned in 110.26(a) would be required if a 2 pole 30A toggle switch were located at the outside condensing unit to serve as the disconnecting means and the overcurrent protection was provided by the breaker in the panel?

The code mandates working space for electrical equipment “likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized.”

I don't think any of these will likely be done while energized. I do realize I'm beating a dead horse here so I'll fold on this one