How well do you know the Code? Think you can spot violations the original installer either ignored or couldn't identify? Here's your chance to moonlight as an electrical inspector and second-guess someone else's work from the safety of your living room or office. Joe Tedesco, who has a knack for finding shoddy electrical work, did the dirty work and found this mess. Now it's your turn to identify the violation.
Find the Answer
These disconnects violate rules requiring "ready access" and cannot be considered to be in compliance with any Code rule, even though many would say otherwise and work on the equipment anyway. Who's at fault here? The disconnects were there before the AC equipment was installed, so I believe that the placement of them could have been positioned differently to give the required working space as noted in 110.26.
As per 440.14, “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. The disconnecting means shall not be located on panels that are designed to allow access to the air-conditioning or refrigeration equipment.” See Article 100 for the definition of “Accessible, Readily (Readily Accessible).”