Question on GFCI

I

Isaiah

Senior Member
Location
Baton Rouge
Occupation
Electrical Inspector
At this plant site there are several stand alone facilities noted as washrooms (bathrooms) electrically consisting of lighting, hand dryer, water heater and unit heater—no receptacles. The Panelboard is mounted on the wall outside the washroom
Do the Panelboard branch CBs need to be GFCI?


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Isaiah said:
At this plant site there are several stand alone facilities noted as washrooms (bathrooms) electrically consisting of lighting, hand dryer, water heater and unit heater—no receptacles. The Panelboard is mounted on the wall outside the washroom
Do the Panelboard branch CBs need to be GFCI?


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I see no reason for it .
 
charlie b said:
I don't have my code book handy. But I would say no. None of the four items you name can ever come into contact with water.
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I think you’re right. What about the fact the Panelboard is located outside the washroom. Does there need to be a disconnecting means located inside?


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Isaiah said:
I think you’re right. What about the fact the Panelboard is located outside the washroom. Does there need to be a disconnecting means located inside?


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You can not have a panelboard inside the washroom but you can locate it very close to the entry point outside the room, so as to have a readily accessible disconnecting means, assuming the panel has a MCB


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Isaiah said:
I think you’re right. What about the fact the Panelboard is located outside the washroom. Does there need to be a disconnecting means located inside?


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The Water Heater and the Unit heater will need to have disconnecting means. It may be integral, but if not you need to install.
 
Isaiah said:
Why can’t the branch CB be the disconnecting means?


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As Dale said, but that requires permanent provisions to hang a padlock, not merely a breaker, which is possible but must be planned on. We are assuming the breaker is not within site of the water heater though.
 
Strathead said:
As Dale said, but that requires permanent provisions to hang a padlock, not merely a breaker, which is possible but must be planned on. We are assuming the breaker is not within site of the water heater though.
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Just order the breaker lock accessory from the breaker manufacturer, remove the dead front, install the breaker lock assembly and re-install the dead front. Not a big deal.
 
Breaker locks are great for circuits that shouldn't be easily turned off like fire alarms and security systems. But for equipment that might need to be disconnected in a hurry, an accessible disconnect is my preference.
 
CoolWill said:
Breaker locks are great for circuits that shouldn't be easily turned off like fire alarms and security systems. But for equipment that might need to be disconnected in a hurry, an accessible disconnect is my preference.
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Not talking about that type of breaker lock. All of the manufacturers have accessories that you can install in their panel to permit a breaker to be locked out using a padlock. The breaker is still the accessible disconnect, but when out of sight from the equipment, it requires the provisions specified in 110.25. The breaker lock accessories comply with that section
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
Not talking about that type of breaker lock. All of the manufacturers have accessories that you can install in their panel to permit a breaker to be locked out using a padlock. The breaker is still the accessible disconnect, but when out of sight from the equipment, it requires the provisions specified in 110.25. The breaker lock accessories comply with that section
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Very good to know - thanks Don


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don_resqcapt19 said:
Just order the breaker lock accessory from the breaker manufacturer, remove the dead front, install the breaker lock assembly and re-install the dead front. Not a big deal.
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I see so many things today that are "not a big deal." yet still don't get done right. Inspectors seem to be doing more drive by inspections, and at least around here, those breaker lockouts aren't a stock item, so I just meant you need to plan ahead and be aware it must be done, not that it is difficult.
 
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