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225.41(A)(B)(C) Emergency Disconnects – 1 and 2 Family Homes

New

Change Summary

  • The Code Making Panel (CMP) has accepted and added requirements for designing and installing outdoor emergency disconnects.

NEC®Text

Article 225 Outside Branch Circuits and Feeders 
225.41 Emergency Disconnects. For one-and two-family dwelling units, an emergency disconnecting means shall be installed.
(A) General.
(1) Location. The disconnecting means shall be installed in a readily accessible outdoor location on or within sight of the dwelling unit.
(2) Rating. The disconnecting means shall have a short- circuit current rating equal to or greater than the available fault current.
(3) Grouping. If more than one disconnecting means is provided, they shall be grouped.
(B) Identification of Other Isolation Disconnects.
Where equipment for isolation of other energy source systems is not located adjacent to the emergency disconnect required by this section, a plaque or directory identifying the location of all equipment for isolation of other energy sources shall be located adjacent to the disconnecting means required by this section.
Informational Note: See 445.18, 480.7, 705.20, and 706.15 for examples of other energy source system isolation means.
(C) Marking. The disconnecting means shall be marked as EMERGENCY DISCONNECT.
Markings shall comply with 110.21(B) and all of the following:
(1) The marking or labels shall be located on the outside front of the disconnect enclosure with red background and white text.
(2) The letters shall be least 13 mm (1/2 in.) high.

Material taken from the National Electric Code. is reprinted with permission from NFPA 70., 2023 edition. National Electrical Code®, Copyright 2022, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. All rights reserved.

Expert Analysis

A new section has been added to correlate with existing requirements for service supplied dwelling units and the revisions in 230.85. The new section will help first responders and provide the ability to disconnect the power to the dwelling without regard to whether it's a feeder or service supplied.

Figure 1