This month we will examine the 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code. Article 230, Services, has a new section, 230.85 Emergency Disconnects. This new requirement for an emergency disconnect for one- and two-family dwelling units shall be installed at a readily accessible outdoor location. Don’t confuse this requirement for an emergency disconnect with the service disconnect. The service disconnecting means can still be installed at a readily accessible location and located outside of the building or structure or inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors. The language of 230.70(A)(1) remains unchanged. The National Electrical Code has specific language concerning many types of installations. Remember to consult the code book for additional information. The Outline and Language of the code is included below. Practice using the Codeology Method to answer all your code challenges.
CHAPTER, ARTICLE, PART and SECTION!
2020 National Electrical Code
Chapter 2 Wiring and Protection
Article 230 Services
Part VI. Service Equipment – Disconnecting Means
Section 230.85 Emergency Disconnects 230.85
Emergency Disconnects. For One- and two-family dwelling units, all service conductors shall terminate in disconnecting means having a short-circuit current rating equal to or greater than the available fault current, installed in a readily accessible outdoor location. If more than one disconnect is provided, they shall be grouped. Each disconnect shall be one of the following: …... Markings shall comply with 110.21(B).
So what does this mean?
This new section, 230.85 Emergency Disconnects, requires that an emergency disconnecting means, which could include the service disconnecting means, shall be provided for a one- or two-family dwelling to be installed and located on the outside of the building or structure. This new language was added to provide first responders an outdoor accessible emergency or service disconnecting means in an emergency situation such as fire, flooding, structural damage or inclement weather. First responders accessing the service disconnecting means is difficult when the service disconnect is installed in an indoor location and the habit of removing the electrical meter under load is a dangerous practice for interrupting the electrical power. In the 2017 edition of the National Electrical Code, Article 690, Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems, added similar requirements for a rapid shutdown initiator device to be located on the outside of the building for one- and two-family dwellings. In the 2020 NEC additional requirements for an emergency disconnect at a readily accessible outdoor location for dwelling units was added to Article 445 Generators, Article 480 Storage Batteries, Article 694 Wind Electric Systems and Article 706 Energy Storage Systems. The goal of these changes is to further enhance the safety of emergency responders. The 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code certainly meets the purpose of the code – the practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity.
Earlier this year, in a NEC CODE CORNER article, I wrote - Presently, New York State is still enforcing the 2014 NEC. It is anyone’s guess when the State will change to the 2017 or 2020 edition of the NEC. Well, there has been an update - New York State is on track to adopt the 2020 NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and State Energy Code. Once the 2020 NYS Code does get adopted and becomes law in New York State, the 2017 National Electrical Code will be enforced throughout the State. On May 12, 2020, the 2017 National Electrical Code will be in effect in New York State. Additional information is available at - https://www.nfpa.org/NEC/NEC-adoptionand-use/NEC-adoption-maps
CODE KNOWLEDGE = CODE CONFIDENCE Tom Dunne
MONTHLY CODE CHALLENGE
Find the correct Chapter, Article, Part and Section and win a prize!
Use the 2020 National Electrical Code Book
All 125-volt through ________receptacles installed in the locations specified in _______ (A) (1) through (A) (11) and supplied by a single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground shall have ground-fault circuitinterrupter protection for personnel.
Send in your answer with the correct Chapter, the correct Article, the correct Part and the correct Section, including the correct 1st, 2nd and 3rd level subdivision to: ckelly@lijatc.org and win a prize.