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215.15 Barriers in Electrical Equipment

New

Change Summary

  • New section requires barriers over uninsulated ungrounded busbars or terminals that are exposed in panelboards, switchgear, or motor control centers.

NEC®Text

Article 215 Feeders
215.15 Barriers.
Barriers shall be placed such that no energized uninsulated, ungrounded busbar or terminal is exposed to inadvertent contact by persons or maintenance equipment while servicing load terminations in panelboards, switchboards, switchgear, or motor control centers supplied by feeder taps in 240.21(B) or transformer secondary conductors in 240.21(C) when the disconnecting device, to which the tap conductors are terminated, is in the open position.

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 clarify that barriers can mitigate the potential for shock for personnel working on electrical equipment. The new requirement for barriers to provide protection against inadvertent contact mirrors the requirements in 230.62(C).

This requirement is limited to panelboards, switchboards, switchgear, or motor control centers supplied by feeder taps in 240.21(B) or transformer secondary conductors in 240.21(C). Where the tap rules are applied it is unlikely that the source of supply to the overcurrent protective device can be deenergized during maintenance and other tasks. This revision ensures the exposed energized parts on the line side of the overcurrent protective device are protected against inadvertent contact. When the disconnecting device to which the tap conductors are terminated is in the open position, the likelihood of contact with energized parts is significantly reduced.

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