This is the first of my newsletters for the 2020 Code changes, There are quite a few changes that will impact your inspections and costs for construction. I will send out a change every few weeks so as not to overloads your email. We will not even use these changes until December 31, 2023 which is a ways off. If you are getting inspections and they are using the 2020 Code they are not supposed to be using it until it is adopted, and like I said “NOT ASDOPTED FOR USE UNTIL 12.31.23”.
This first change has to do with large equipment and the requirements for safe egress from the gear rooms and such. Being able to exit an area around large equipment is something that needs care in planning and is often misunderstood. In past Codes, the equipment needed to have a breaker or fuse that was rated at least 1200 amperes individually for this section to apply, and under the 2020 it will only need to have individual overcurrent devices that add up to 1200 amperes installed and are 6’ or more IN width.
So you could have 3 or 4 600 ampere disconnects that are more than 1200 amperes combined and when added together more than 6’ in width. The potential for an arc flash or explosion in this area is still high even when the overcurrent devices are not rated at 1200 amperes. All we are trying to accomplish is to give a worker a safe exit from the area around large electrical equipment.
Till next time be safe work safe
Jake