Switchgear and mcc rooms

[jimbo123]

Are the mcc and switchgear rooms off limits to non qualified people? A lot of times the workers of the machinery and even some contractors enter these area for the purpose of resetting a breaker.

 

[Buck Parrish]

Yes, qualified only. That doesn't neccessarily mean a licensed electrician.
I think it could very well be a maintnance person who has been trained in this type equipment. Such as when to reset and not reset a breaker. Ussually if one trips it's for a reason.
I wouldn't allow sub contractors in thier. Not unless they are electricians.

 

[TxEngr]

If all of the doors and panels are properly secured and there are no exposed energized parts and they are not interacting with the equipment (e.g. they can?t reset the breaker), then yes they are allowed in the room ? at least until the 2012 revision of 70E comes out. If a panel door is open and they will not cross the arc flash boundary but will cross the limited approach boundary, they must be escorted by a qualified person (as defined in 70E). All of that said, it?s generally a good idea to keep unqualified people out of your MCC rooms unless escorted by a qualified person. That?s why we lock many of our MCC rooms at my facility and will eventually have them all locked. That was a lot of ?ifs? to keep up with and restricting access is the easiest way to control things.

 

[raider1]

I will echo the others comments and add that resetting of an overcurrent protective device after the device trips is prohibited until it has been determined that the equipment and circuit can be safely energized. This requires an investigation of the reason that the overcurrent protective device tripped and most likely some repair. This should only be done by someone that is deemed a qualified person.

Chris

 

[wdemos]

What do you think OHSA would say?

What do you think OHSA would say?

Occupational Health and Safety

Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR)

1910.334(b)(2)

Reclosing circuits after protective device operation. After a circuit is deenergized by a circuit protective device, the circuit may not be manually reenergized until it has been determined that the equipment and circuit can be safely energized. The repetitive manual reclosing of circuit breakers or reenergizing circuits through replaced fuses is prohibited.

Note: When it can be determined from the design of the circuit and the overcurrent devices involved that the automatic operation of a device was caused by an overload rather than a fault condition, no examination of the circuit or connected equipment is needed before the circuit is reenergized.

 

[raider1]

Occupational Health and Safety

Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR)

1910.334(b)(2)

Reclosing circuits after protective device operation. After a circuit is deenergized by a circuit protective device, the circuit may not be manually reenergized until it has been determined that the equipment and circuit can be safely energized. The repetitive manual reclosing of circuit breakers or reenergizing circuits through replaced fuses is prohibited.

Note: When it can be determined from the design of the circuit and the overcurrent devices involved that the automatic operation of a device was caused by an overload rather than a fault condition, no examination of the circuit or connected equipment is needed before the circuit is reenergized.

That section is mirrored my NFPA 70E Section 130.6(K).

Chris

 

[wdemos]

That section is mirrored my NFPA 70E Section 130.6(K).

Chris

Thanks Chris that section will be much easier to find and remember than what I just went through.

 

[raider1]

Thanks Chris that section will be much easier to find and remember than what I just went through.

Your very welcome.

Chris