?
Monday, April 29, 2019
Question:
Per NEC 230-71 maximum number of service disconnection means.
It If I have two services (1) 120/208V and (1) 480/277V for a multi-family building in the same electrical room. Is each service allowed a maximum of 6 service of service disconnecting means. In other words, I could have a total number of (12) switches to disconnect the service to the building. Or what if I have (2) services and one at each end of the building. Does that change the scenario?
Thanks, Dan Craven
A
Answer:
Hey Dan thanks for your question. Yes. Each service that is allowed by 230.2 can have up to 6 disconnecting means as stated in 230.71(A). If 2 to 6 are installed they must be grouped as stated in 230.72(A). Not more than 6 disconnects - for each service, can be grouped in one location as stated in the second sentence of 230.71(A). As you state if the two services are at opposite ends of a building, they would not be grouped. No specific distance is given for the distance between groups of up to 6 but if it is easy to see that each set of up to 6 is for a different service, they are not prohibited from being in the area or in the same room. Confirming acceptance with the AHJ about the details of your example - before doing the installation can help avoid problems later.