Oil Burner Disconnect

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FrancisDoody

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Location
Durham, CT
Yesterday, After installing the electric to an oil fired furnace in a light industrial facility, I was informed by the oil guy that my installation did not meet code. After scratching my head I asked him why. He stated that I needed one of those "on/off switches" to be mounted on the unit. I asked him if he was referring to the motor disconnect switch. He said, "hey the one that you see on the side of the burner". I said see that switch over there. The one with the red paint and arrows on it. The one that is clearly within sight of the unit. That is your on/off switch. He said that was not acceptable and that the inspector will red flag this installation. Am I missing something here? Is there a hidden code that states the disconnect must be mounted to the furnace?
Thanks,
Fran
 
burner sw

burner sw

Its one of those always done it that way. The idea of it attached to the burner is for the oil burner tech. can turn it on & turn it off as they adjust the air flow of the burner nozzle. Hope this helps :grin:
 
May be site requirement

May be site requirement

The NEC is a base safety code, often other codes are used in conjunction with or supercide NEC. It could even just be a safety requirement of just that facility - or a Past-Practice type of thing. At my company we require all motorized units to have local disconnects for lock-out.
 
I posted that code a while back. I think is was a mechanical code. It said, basically, that the switch must be operable while observing the flame.
 
NFPA 31 Standard for the Installation of Oil Burning Equipment 2006 would probably be the standard to apply and they have no such requirement. However if this was an oil burner it would require a disconnect outside of and adjacent to the room with the boiler and one within easy reach (10.5.1.2 and 10.5.2).

The International Mechanical Code 2006 require the disconnect to be capable of being locked in the off position.(1006.8)
 
Check local codes. MA does not use the nfpa document. We have our own oil burner code.
 
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