Equipment Disconnect Location

jhudson4 · February 17, 2015, 1:28pm

Ok…what do the officials out there say about the equipment disconnect being “behind” the equipment out of reach of the technician? Would be at least a 4ft reach for the service tech. Garage attic access is bottom left corner of first photo out of view and is just a hole. No solid floor on this side. Attic stairs are in the hallway (top right of 1st pic in the background) with a solid floor all the way to the unit. 2nd picture is from other side of unit accessed from the master closet.

Any particular code section to quote since this is a 2014 home?

jjonas · February 17, 2015, 1:33pm

Line of sight and accessible. It appears to be between the hatch (primary access) and the equipment, so the tech would access it on his way to the equipment. Non-issue, unless there is more you aren’t telling or showing us.

jhudson4 · February 17, 2015, 1:56pm

Here is a few more details:

-the primary access is in the master closet with attic stairs and a platform all the way to the equipment. No disconnect within reach on this side.

-the disconnect is over 4ft behind the unit near the other attic access in the garage which has 12ft ceilings and no pull down ladder and no floor from the hatch opening to the equipment

I say either provide a solid floor to the unit on the garage side or relocate the disconnect to be near the equipment. The latter makes more sense to me since it would about $8 in materials.

My question is if there is any print material to support my opinion?

fkrivsky · February 17, 2015, 2:51pm

IRC requirements

M1305.1.3 Appliances in attics. Attics containing apPli- 1
ances shall be provided with an opening and a clear and
unobstructed passageway large enough to allow removal ofhe largest appliance, but not less than 30 inches (762 mm)
high and 22 inches (559 mm) wide and not more than 20 feet
(6096 mm) long measured along the centerline of the passageway
from the opening to the appliance.

The passagewayshall have continuous solid flooring in accordance with
Chapter 5 not less than 24 inches (610 mm) wide. A level
service space at least 30 inches (762 mm) deep and 30
inches (762 mm) wide shall be present along all sides of the
appliance where access is required. The clear access opening
dimensions shall be a minimum of 20 inches by 30
inches (508 mm by 762 mm), and large enough to allow
removal of the largest appliance.
**
Exceptions**:

The passageway and level service space are not
required where the appliance can be serviced and
removed through the required opening.

Where the passageway is unobstructed and not
less than 6 feet (1829 mm) high and 22 inches (559
mm) wide for its entire length, the passageway
shall be not more than 50 feet (15 250 mm) long.
**
MI305.1.3.1 Electrical requirements.** A luminaire
controlled by a switch located at the required passageway
opening and a receptacle outlet shall be installed at
or near the appliance location in accordance with Chapter

rmeier2 · February 17, 2015, 9:19pm

According to the NEC the disconnect location is fine.

fkrivsky · February 18, 2015, 1:13pm

Just to give you an idea of how far a disconnect can be, one of the warehouses I work at has a flat roof with swamp coolers. The first one you reach is about 120’ away from a row of disconnects that are clearly labeled and easy to see for all the swamp coolers on the roof. Its a bit of a walk to turn it off, but disconnects are not installed with a lazy maintenance guy in mind.

jjonas · February 18, 2015, 1:17pm

Do not confuse these guys with Commercial. They have enough trouble with Residential. Max. Residential is 50 feet line of sight (depending)!

fkrivsky · February 18, 2015, 1:31pm

thx! I was looking for max distance (not too diligently I admit), IRC? NEC? IBC?

Jim_Port · February 18, 2015, 2:06pm

The most common requirement in the NEC is “within sight”. Using the Article 100 definition:

In Sight From (Within Sight From, Within Sight).
Where this Code specifies that one equipment shall be “in
sight from,” “within sight from,” or “within sight of,” and
so forth, another equipment, the specified equipment is to be
visible and not more than 15 m (50 ft) distant from the other.