jar546
CBO
Yes, absolutely. You can even set up unistrut to come off the wall cantilever over the unit.
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Residential A/C Disconnect
- Thread starter BuzzL
- Start date
Sorry to hear about the Edison employee - that’s tragic, but the location of the disconnect would not have prevented the incident. You won’t know the case is hot until you touch it. If the “hot case” was known - go turn off the CB. Turn off the main breaker if there are too many unlabeled 30a or 50a breakers. Once it’s safe - troubleshoot.
I am also surprised to hear that you would repair or replace an energized disconnect. You have provided one data point for the rule, but changing the configuration to a receptacle and plug doesn’t seem like it will solve the issue - it just will make it code compliant. Maybe repair/replacement of the condenser is being confused with repair/replacement of the disconnect?
jar546
CBO
You don't know that, so that is an inappropriate comment. The entire basis of this code is for safety, and I am still at a loss as to why compliance with some extra wire and a length of conduit to change the location of a disconnect is so difficult for some to comply with. At what level of laziness do we have to be? There are so many ways to comply with minimum standards, yet the resistance to simple requirements is still there. The code requirement was clarified to ensure everyone knows that compliance with 110.26 is required.
jar 546 - I'm really glad I found this forum. You guys are a great resource.
You bring up a very important point (the crux of the whole reason for the NEC) which is finding the balance between safety and practicality. Because at one extreme the only way to be completely free of electrical hazards is to not have electricity at all. Using your quote, "to what level of laziness do we have to be" ... to not pump our water by hand? OR ... to not heat our house with coal or fire-wood? OR ... to not dig a basement for cold storage? .... etc etc. I completely realize that this is not what you were thinking, but that is taking SAFETY to the extreme. In order to be safe from electricity - avoid electricity. Because we are not going to be 100% safe (and avoid electricity all together) the issue truly becomes finding a balance between safety and practicality. My argument for the changes to the A/C disconnect rule is that we got it wrong. We are requiring too many resources to retrofit existing disconnects for dubious gains in safety. Especially when I can just change my connection to an electrical plug and outlet and be in compliance with the rules.
For reference here is what the IRC says about setting standards "A residential building code balances safety by establishing minimum standards for construction that protect occupants from hazards like fire, structural failure, and weather events, while also considering affordability and practicality, aiming to achieve a level of safety without imposing excessively burdensome regulations on builders and homeowners;"
That is not what I said. I am an inspector. I inspect energized equipment.
jar546
CBO
That is an excellent point. Clearance in front of energized equipment is paramount for safety. With the changes in the NEC that finally clarifies the 110.26 requirement, this is sort of a dead issue to me. I just enforce it and always complied when I was an electrician because I have been interpreting the compliance with 110.26 for AC disconnects from the beginning which is why I just call non-compliance laziness.
So here is what 110.26 says:
(A) Working Space
Working space for equipment operating at 1000 volts, nominal, or less to ground and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized shall comply with the dimensions of 110.26(A)(1), (A)(2), (A)(3), and (A)(4) or as required or permitted elsewhere in this Code.
Definition for equipment from Ch 1:
Equipment. A general term, including fittings, devices, appliances, luminaires, apparatus, machinery, and the like used as a part of, or in connection with, an electrical installation.
Definition of a Receptacle
Receptacle. A contact device installed at the outlet for the connection of an attachment plug, or for the direct connection of electrical utilization equipment designed to mate with the corresponding contact device. A single receptacle is a single contact device with no other contact device on the same yoke or strap. A multiple receptacle is two or more contact devices on the same yoke or strap.
Note the word "device" in both definitions
With these definitions in mind, can you walk me through how you test a GFCI outlet in a kitchen or bathroom without power? If not or if not done routinely, can you walk me through how those receptacles that are on the wall behind the counter and under the overhang of cabinets meet 110.26A?
I bring this up because I don't see how a non-fused disconnect for an A/C condenser needs any more power on "examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance" than a regular receptacle (it actually requires less due to the GFCI testing issue raised above). In fact, now that I am looking at it, a non-fused disconnect meets the definition of a receptacle.
How would we rectify this discrepancy where every receptacle requires 110.26A work space requirements? Maybe we could consider non-fused disconnects to be "receptacles" and exempt "receptacles" from the work-space requirement all-together. In any case, I hope the inspectors on this forum don't go failing every one of your inspections due to receptacles (aka electrical equipment which includes devices which includes receptacles) not meeting the work space requirements. jar546 the snarky me says that people are just too lazy to put pop-up plugs every two feet within 6" of the front edge of their countertops to be in compliance.
Equipment. A general term, including fittings, devices, appliances,
luminaires, apparatus, machinery, and the like used as a
part of, or in connection with, an electrical installation. (CMP-1)
Device. A unit of an electrical system, other than a conductor,
that carries or controls electric energy as its principal function.
(CMP-1)
Disconnecting Means. A device, or group of devices, or
other means by which the conductors of a circuit can be disconnected
from their source of supply. (CMP-1)
Outlet. A point on the wiring system at which current is taken
to supply utilization equipment. (CMP-1)
Receptacle. A contact device installed at the outlet for the
connection of an attachment plug, or for the direct connection
of electrical utilization equipment designed to mate with the
corresponding contact device. A single receptacle is a single
contact device with no other contact device on the same yoke or
strap. A multiple receptacle is two or more contact devices on
the same yoke or strap. (CMP-18)
Informational Note: A duplex receptacle is an example
of a multiple receptacle that has two receptacles on the
same yoke or strap.
Receptacle Outlet. An outlet where one or more receptacles
are installed. (CMP-18)
luminaires, apparatus, machinery, and the like used as a
part of, or in connection with, an electrical installation. (CMP-1)
Device. A unit of an electrical system, other than a conductor,
that carries or controls electric energy as its principal function.
(CMP-1)
Disconnecting Means. A device, or group of devices, or
other means by which the conductors of a circuit can be disconnected
from their source of supply. (CMP-1)
Outlet. A point on the wiring system at which current is taken
to supply utilization equipment. (CMP-1)
Receptacle. A contact device installed at the outlet for the
connection of an attachment plug, or for the direct connection
of electrical utilization equipment designed to mate with the
corresponding contact device. A single receptacle is a single
contact device with no other contact device on the same yoke or
strap. A multiple receptacle is two or more contact devices on
the same yoke or strap. (CMP-18)
Informational Note: A duplex receptacle is an example
of a multiple receptacle that has two receptacles on the
same yoke or strap.
Receptacle Outlet. An outlet where one or more receptacles
are installed. (CMP-18)
jar546
CBO
440.14 Location.
Disconnecting means shall be located within sight from, and readily accessible from, the air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment. The disconnecting means shall be permitted to be installed on or within the air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment. Disconnecting means shall meet the working space requirements of 110.26(A).
The disconnecting means shall not be located on panels that are designed to allow access to the air-conditioning or refrigeration equipment or where it obscures the equipment nameplate(s).
Exception No. 1:
Where the disconnecting means provided in accordance with 430.102(A) is lockable in accordance with 110.25 and the refrigerating or air-conditioning equipment is essential to an industrial process in a facility with written safety procedures, and where the conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified persons service the equipment, a disconnecting means within sight from the equipment shall not be required.
Exception No. 2:
Where an attachment plug and receptacle serve as the disconnecting means in accordance with 440.13, their location shall be accessible but shall not be required to be readily accessible.
Informational Note:
See Parts VII and IX of Article 430 for additional requirements.
My take:
Exception No. 1 addresses unique circumstances related to process refrigeration equipment, which is often very large and may not have rated disconnects readily available. This equipment might also be situated in hazardous (classified) areas, where placing the disconnecting means within sight of the motor could increase risks. A mechanism to lock the disconnecting means in the open position must remain functional regardless of whether a lock is installed.
Informational Note No. 1 references Parts VII and IX of Article 430 to highlight additional disconnect location requirements specified in sections 430.102, 430.107, and 430.113. Section 440.14 requires the equipment disconnecting means to be both within sight of and easily accessible from the equipment, even when a remote disconnect can be locked in the "open" position under the exception outlined in 430.102(B)(2).
This specific requirement for air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment under Article 440 imposes stricter standards compared to Article 430. It is designed to safeguard service personnel working on equipment located in hard-to-access areas such as attics, rooftops, or remote outdoor locations, where reaching a remote lockable disconnect may be challenging.
Disconnecting means shall be located within sight from, and readily accessible from, the air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment. The disconnecting means shall be permitted to be installed on or within the air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment. Disconnecting means shall meet the working space requirements of 110.26(A).
The disconnecting means shall not be located on panels that are designed to allow access to the air-conditioning or refrigeration equipment or where it obscures the equipment nameplate(s).
Exception No. 1:
Where the disconnecting means provided in accordance with 430.102(A) is lockable in accordance with 110.25 and the refrigerating or air-conditioning equipment is essential to an industrial process in a facility with written safety procedures, and where the conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified persons service the equipment, a disconnecting means within sight from the equipment shall not be required.
Exception No. 2:
Where an attachment plug and receptacle serve as the disconnecting means in accordance with 440.13, their location shall be accessible but shall not be required to be readily accessible.
Informational Note:
See Parts VII and IX of Article 430 for additional requirements.
My take:
Exception No. 1 addresses unique circumstances related to process refrigeration equipment, which is often very large and may not have rated disconnects readily available. This equipment might also be situated in hazardous (classified) areas, where placing the disconnecting means within sight of the motor could increase risks. A mechanism to lock the disconnecting means in the open position must remain functional regardless of whether a lock is installed.
Informational Note No. 1 references Parts VII and IX of Article 430 to highlight additional disconnect location requirements specified in sections 430.102, 430.107, and 430.113. Section 440.14 requires the equipment disconnecting means to be both within sight of and easily accessible from the equipment, even when a remote disconnect can be locked in the "open" position under the exception outlined in 430.102(B)(2).
This specific requirement for air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment under Article 440 imposes stricter standards compared to Article 430. It is designed to safeguard service personnel working on equipment located in hard-to-access areas such as attics, rooftops, or remote outdoor locations, where reaching a remote lockable disconnect may be challenging.
Gregg Harris
SAWHORSE
The word device is a very general word that can be a physical item or an inanimate object. A pencil is a device used for writing and does not require 110.26. A verbal resignation to your boss can be a device to get more money.
A GFCI is tested while energized but does not require servicing or adjustments while energized, there is no exposed conductors to touch and get electrocuted it is a safe process. It requires maintenance by pressing the test buttons on its face. The testing is done with a test instrument or device therefore not requiring a safe work space.
An A/C disconnect on the other hand does require you to open it and expose yourself to live conductors that need to be examined while energized to test for temperature and amperage while the A/C unit is operating posing a safety risk.
steveray
SAWHORSE
And when the gfci does not reset or output and there is power at the ocpd?
Gregg Harris
SAWHORSE
Turn breaker off LOTO remove outlet, ohm wires, and if no fault found replace GFCI ,remove lockout and renergize.
steveray
SAWHORSE
Seems like the same procedure could be applied to the AC disco….or the HVAC “outlet”…
There's a number of opinions here but just one code.
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Gregg Harris
SAWHORSE
The ac unit needs to be running for it to be tested for amperage and voltage drop along with thermal imaging of the contacts inside the disconnect.
There are no serviceable parts in a GFCI outlet or breaker.
If the disconnect showed bad contacts, you would follow the same procedures for repair and the same for the outlet.
Thank you Joe B. This is what I found as well. It seems that by definition all receptacles are "devices" and all "devices" are equipment. Therefore all receptacles should (if likely to be examined or inspected while energized) should meet the work-space requirements of 110.26. However, this doesn't seem to be the case. GFCI Kitchen receptacles are an example of where no one seems to be following the rules. It seems no one thinks of a GFCI receptacle as a piece of electrical equipment, even though by definition it is.
Greg. I 100% agree with your assessment. HVAC equipment needs to be powered-on in order to do some of the servicing procedures required. What confuses me though, is why the access panels to the condenser (the HVAC unit itself) are not subject to the workspace clearance requirements, but the disconnect for the unit is subject to these requirements. No one is repairing or replacing the electrical disconnect with the circuit still energized. It seems the 2023 NEC targeted the wrong item.
jar546. Thank you -- what you say makes perfect sense. I'm still at a loss as to why the disconnect is subject to the workspace requirements, but the access panels to the unit are not.
Gregg... what kind of disconnect are you using for your HVAC system? The non-fused disconnects that are commonly used do not expose electrical connections any more than a common receptacle does. Sure you can stick a paperclip in there and shock yourself, but it is simply a receptacle and plug. What "service" or "adjustment" is being conducted on a non-fused disconnect? Seriously... what service or adjustment is being done to a non-fused disconnect? As for your examples of a pencil and verbal resignation ... sure we can call them a device, but neither are "electrical" in nature. A receptacle (outlet) is electrical and nature and by the NEC's definition is a "device."
As for testing Amperage... that is typically done using wires inside the access panel to the unit. It is typically not done at the disconnect. It seems the bureaucrats that revised the 2023 NEC (in an effort to clarify) don't really understand how things work in the field. Other than using it to remove power to the AC unit, no one is messing around with an energized disconnect -- in other words AC disconnects are used exactly like a receptacle (outlet and plug). The whole discussion would make more sense if the workspace requirements were tied to the access panels on the AC unit, but that is not what the code says. It almost seems as though the bureaucrats are either confused over how HVAC units are serviced OR they are just trying to get more business for their companies.
I would suggest that most people on this forum (myself included) are doing okay financially and that the cost of moving a disconnect from one side of a unit to another during an HVAC replacement ($500 or so added onto the replacement cost) is a manageable expense; however, this is not the case for a lot of Americans. $500 is "real money" to a lot of our fellow citizens, and bureaucrats that want to assess that "fee" for dubious claims of safety really burn me up. Again... this is a whole different discussion if the work-space requirement were levied on the AC access panels where live conductors are routinely exposed during maintenance, but it isn't about workspace for the AC unit, it is about the electrical disconnect.
ICE. We all agree - just one code. Maybe though, we can all try to inject some common sense into non-sensical rules. We obviously are not following the code to the letter because if we were kitchen outlets would be non-compliant. I don't hear any disagreement over 1) GFCI outlets are "electrical equipment" 2) GFCI outlets are tested while energized. The only thing I don't hear is that 3) GFCI outlets (by the rules) need to meet 110.26 workspace clearance requirements - I don't see any exceptions for the "safe" testing of these devices.
I know the issue of an AC disconnect doesn't seem like a big deal to most, but making rules for the sake of making rules with dubious claims of safety is very "European." A rule like this one can be a substantial tax levied just to "bring things up to code." It just isn't right.
BuzzL,
During my tenure as an inspector for LA County I did not require compliance with 110.26 if the A/C disconnect lacked an overcurrent device. The code was ambiguous enough that County policy allowed such an interpretation. This was a topic at the forum. The most vocal objector did everything short of call for a public flogging. Then the code was revised and the ambiguity was removed. We are now specifically instructed to require compliance with 110.26 with all A/C disconnecting means. There is no wiggle room. There is no bleeding into other ares such as a GFCI receptacle.
I do agree with you in that the code revision was poorly done. There is a need for working space if there is an overcurrent device. The code should properly make a distinction between a fused and non fused disconnect. Then Jeff could still be disappointed.
During my tenure as an inspector for LA County I did not require compliance with 110.26 if the A/C disconnect lacked an overcurrent device. The code was ambiguous enough that County policy allowed such an interpretation. This was a topic at the forum. The most vocal objector did everything short of call for a public flogging. Then the code was revised and the ambiguity was removed. We are now specifically instructed to require compliance with 110.26 with all A/C disconnecting means. There is no wiggle room. There is no bleeding into other ares such as a GFCI receptacle.
I do agree with you in that the code revision was poorly done. There is a need for working space if there is an overcurrent device. The code should properly make a distinction between a fused and non fused disconnect. Then Jeff could still be disappointed.
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steveray
SAWHORSE
Categorized as ‘rapacious expense’?