National Electrical Code

Battery Room Disconnecting Means

March 15, 2018

Is a disconnecting means really required “within sight” of the batteries?

In Sec. 480.7(A) of the 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC), there is a requirement for a disconnecting means to be located at a readily accessible location within sight of the battery system. What if we want to install the battery disconnecting means in another room ― out of sight of the batteries ― and just install a control circuit and pushbutton in the battery room to operate the disconnecting means? Let’s say that the disconnecting means is lockable in the OFF or OPEN position as required by Sec. 110.25. Would this equipment arrangement violate the NEC?

You can easily misinterpret Sec. 480.7(B) if you read through it quickly. Let’s review it together now.

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“480.7(B) Remote Actuation. Where a disconnecting means, located in accordance with 480.7(A) is provided with remote controls to activate the disconnecting means and the controls for the disconnecting means are not located within sight of the stationary battery system, the disconnecting means shall be capable of being locked in the open position, in accordance with 110.25 and the location of the controls shall be field marked on the disconnecting means.”

This language may seem to allow the scenario I proposed in my opening paragraph. However, it does not. Section 480.7(B) requires the battery disconnecting means to be located within sight of the batteries. A remote-control pushbutton, for instance, could be installed remotely from the battery room to operate the disconnecting means located within sight of the batteries, but not vice-versa.

About the Author

Eddie Guidry | Senior Fellow

Eddie Guidry is a senior fellow with Fluor Enterprises, Inc., Sugar Land, Texas. He is highly skilled in electrical and control systems for industrial construction, design, and engineering (both domestic and abroad). The majority of Eddie’s 38 years of experience includes upstream and downstream portions of petrochemical plants and refineries. He is also heavily experienced in water and wastewater treatment facilities. Eddie is very active in the development of U.S. national (ANSI) and international codes and standards, and has been a principal member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) National Electrical Code (NEC) committee since 1999 and NFPA’s National Advisory Committee on Electrical Safety Research since 2008. Eddie, who has also developed and conducted many electrical courses and seminars over the years, currently holds the corporate Master Electrician license for Fluor Corporation in the State of Texas and is also an ICC/IAEI certified electrical inspector.