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 IAEI News>Focus on the Code >CMP-10
Question
1. I am trying to determine the intent of NEC Sections
240.24(B) and 240.24(B), Exception No. 1. I have a five-story office building
with a central electrical room on each floor. The electrical
room is locked and only accessible to maintenance personnel
that are on call 24 hours a day. The tenant overcurrent
devices (panels) are all to be located in the central
electrical room. The building is for multiple tenants on each
of the five floors. The local AHJ has rejected the
design since each tenant does not have direct access to the
overcurrent devices that serve each tenant
space. The inspector has cited Sections 240.24(B) and
240.24(B), Exception No. 1. It has always been common
practice to have a central core electrical room for all the
tenant panelboards as long as there were maintenance personnel
on site or on call 24 hours a day. Am I wrong or was this not the intent
of this section? Or is the Code trying to require
that there be a qualified electrician on site 24 hours a day? —
W.W. Answer 1. After
reviewing your question, I feel that others might have the same desire for a
discussion on this subject. For reference, I am using the 2005 National
Electrical Code. As I understand your jobsite conditions, I feel the main
topic is that the overcurrent devices are required to be readily accessible.
The practice of a central electrical room for all tenant panelboards is one
that is quite universal. Examining your question further, I feel everyone would be
comfortable with the door if it did not have a lock. This condition would
fall under the requirements of 240.24(B). Most AHJs that I have been in contact with feel that if
each tenant had a key in their possession, they would have the required
ready access. The panelboards could have different combinations of locks or
security means to reduce the accidental operation of overcurrent devices. The Code would also be satisfied if personnel were
on site at all times. This condition would fall under the requirements of
240.24(B), Exception No. 1. I hope this answers your question about having direct
access to the tenant overcurrent device. —Gerald W. Williams, CMP-10 | Return
to top | The views of the authors of Focus on
the Code and the editor are provided solely as a public service. |
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