Vault or room as J-box?

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chris kennedy

chris kennedy

Senior Member
Location
Miami Fla.
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60 yr old tool twisting electrician
I think Marc started a similiar thread but I can't find it to see what the outcome was.

POCO is moving thier tranny outside and giving us this room. We will be using the existing buss stabs that feed switch gear backed up to the
wall.

The engineer and myself feel it would be OK to leave the stabs exposed.

We have also contacted Seimens to see what we could do to build a custom buss-duct around the stabs.

Any opinions about leaving them exposed? NEC Art's if you could.

Thanks

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480sparky

480sparky

Senior Member
Location
Iowegia
chris kennedy said:
I think Marc started a similiar thread but I can't find it to see what the outcome was.

POCO is moving thier tranny outside and giving us this room. We will be using the existing buss stabs that feed switch gear backed up to the
wall.

The engineer and myself feel it would be OK to leave the stabs exposed......
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How come you seen to get all the FUN jobs, Chris? :cool:
 
petersonra

petersonra

Senior Member
Location
Northern illinois
Occupation
engineer
While it is not required by code, it might be a "good idea" to fabricate some kind of guarding. A plexiglass shield in front of the live components would be simple to fabricate and install, and would reduce the risk of someone accidentally coming into contact with the live parts.

I might be inclined to leave it alone as long as the room is locked, and rarely accessed.
 
J

jim dungar

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Wisconsin
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PE (Retired) - Power Systems
If it was acceptable when the utility transformer was in there, why would it become unacceptable with it gone?
 
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jim dungar

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Staff member
Location
Wisconsin
Occupation
PE (Retired) - Power Systems
Pierre C Belarge said:
Jim
Devil's advocate - when the utility was occupying the space, it did not fall under the NEC. After it would. :wink:
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Ahh, but if the customer always had access to the interior of the room then it was not under exclusive control of the utility and it would have been subject to the NEC.
 
chris kennedy

chris kennedy

Senior Member
Location
Miami Fla.
Occupation
60 yr old tool twisting electrician
jim dungar said:
Ahh, but if the customer always had access to the interior of the room then it was not under exclusive control of the utility and it would have been subject to the NEC.
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As it will be.

The owner of our company met with Siemens there today to discuss the custom buss-duct I mentioned.

But after reading these I don't feel it's required although I would still be more comfortable with the stabs in duct.

Enclosed. Surrounded by a case, housing, fence, or wall(s) that prevents persons from accidentally contacting energized parts.
Enclosure. The case or housing of apparatus, or the fence or walls surrounding an installation to prevent personnel from accidentally contacting energized parts or to protect the equipment from physical damage.
FPN: See Table 110.20 for examples of enclosure types

110.27 Guarding of Live Parts.
(A) Live Parts Guarded Against Accidental Contact. Except as elsewhere required or permitted by this Code, live parts of electrical equipment operating at 50 volts or more shall be guarded against accidental contact by approved enclosures or by any of the following means:
(1) By location in a room, vault, or similar enclosure that is accessible only to qualified persons.
(2) By suitable permanent, substantial partitions or screens arranged so that only qualified persons have access to the space within reach of the live parts. Any openings in such partitions or screens shall be sized and located so that persons are not likely to come into accidental contact with the live parts or to bring conducting objects into contact with them.
(3) By location on a suitable balcony, gallery, or platform elevated and arranged so as to exclude unqualified persons.
(4) By elevation of 2.5 m (8 ft) or more above the floor or other working surface.
(B) Prevent Physical Damage. In locations where electrical equipment is likely to be exposed to physical damage, enclosures or guards shall be so arranged and of such strength as to prevent such damage.
(C) Warning Signs. Entrances to rooms and other guarded locations that contain exposed live parts shall be marked with conspicuous warning signs forbidding unqualified persons to enter.
FPN: For motors, see 430.232 and 430.233. For over 600 volts, see 110.34.
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