Log in
Register
Home
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
Featured content
New posts
New profile posts
Latest activity
News
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Features
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search titles only
By:
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Install the app
Install
Reply to thread
Home
Forums
Low Earth Orbit
Lighting & Electrical
NEC 2013 Draft, OSHA, and Generators - Details and Discussion (long)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Phil Graham" data-source="post: 7511" data-attributes="member: 430"><p>Everyone,</p><p></p><p>In preparation for an upcoming FOH article on generators, I've be reviewing the NEC and OSHA code, especially as it relates to GFCIs. The requisite "I am not an electrician" disclaimer here.</p><p></p><p>---</p><p><strong>GFCI and OSHA</strong></p><p></p><p>As it stands today, here is OSHA's stance:<p style="margin-left: 20px"><strong><span style="color: black"><a href="http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owalink.query_links?src_doc_type=STANDARDS&src_unique_file=1926_0404&src_anchor_name=1926.404(b)(1)(ii)" target="_blank">1926.404(b)(1)(ii)</a></span></strong></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'">Ground-fault circuit interrupters. All 120-volt, single-phase 15- and 20-ampere receptacle outlets on construction sites, which are not a part of the permanent wiring of the building or structure and which are in use by employees, shall have approved ground-fault circuit interrupters for personnel protection. Receptacles on a two-wire, single-phase portable or vehicle-mounted generator rated not more than 5kW, where the circuit conductors of the generator are insulated from the generator frame and all other grounded surfaces, need not be protected with ground-fault circuit interrupters.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'">This means that for generators under 5KW, where there is no neutral/ground bonding (e.g. Honda EU2000 and EU3000), then the overcurrent protection need not be GFCI. This also means it apperas that the Honda EU6500i isn't compliant for OSHA regulated environments (no GFCI, more thank 5kW).</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'">---</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'"><strong>GFCI in the NEC 2013 Draft</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'">NEC 210.8 sets the general precedent of requiring GFCI outdoors for single phase 115V 15a and 20a branch circuits, and this is echoed in 215.9 for feeders to such circuits.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'">In the 2013 NEC draft, a proposed new section now seems relevant. Let's start with all of the existing NEC 590.6 "Ground Fault Protection for Personnel" and specifically 590.6(A)(3), as the new section appears to start here. <em>590.6 is targeted specifically at construction, demolition, and maintenance, but see how it related to the proposed 445.20 below:</em></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'"></span></span><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'">"<strong>590.6(A)(3) </strong></span></span><strong>Receptacles on 15-kW or less Portable Generators.</strong></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">All 125-volt and 125/250-volt, single-phase, 15-, 20-, and 30-ampere receptacle outlets that are a part of a 15-kW or smaller portable generator shall have listed ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel. All 15- and 20-ampere, 125- and 250-volt receptacles, including those that are part of a portable generator, used in a damp or wet location shall comply with 406.9(A) and (B).<em> Listed cord sets or devices incorporating listed ground-fault circuit interrupter protection for personnel identified for portable use shall be permitted for use with 15-kW or less portable </em><em>generators manufactured or remanufactured prior to January 1, 2011.</em> [Emphasis mine]"</p><p></p><p>Now compare that to the new NEC 445.20, proposed under ROP 13-19:<p style="margin-left: 20px">"<strong>445.20 Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter Protection for Receptacles on 15 kW or Smaller, Portable Generators.</strong></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- 20-, and 30-ampere receptacle outlets, that are a part of a 15 kW or smaller, portable</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">generator, shall have ground-fault circuit interrupter protection for personnel integral to the generator or receptacle.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">[ROP 13–19]"</p><p></p><p>While NEC 590.6 sets up a more stringent expectation than OSHA does, 590.6 does have a specific exception:<p style="margin-left: 20px">"<em>Exception: In industrial establishments only, where conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified personnel are involved, an assured equipment</em></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>grounding conductor program as specified in 590.6(B)(2) shall be permitted for only those receptacle outlets used to supply equipment that would create a greater hazard if</em></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>power were interrupted or having a design that is not compatible with GFCI protection.</em>"</p><p></p><p>By contrast, the proposed NEC 445.20 follows in the footsteps of 590.6, but without any exceptions, and the exclusion of 250V circuits.</p><p></p><p>---</p><p></p><p>I'm by no means a code expert, but I read this new proposed section as potentially causing compliance problems for the existing small Honda generators that are popular in our industry, as they don't provide GFCI. I'm not saying that AHJ will suddenly start having issues, but it does seem like a problem could exist with certain inspectors.</p><p></p><p>Curious if anyone else has any input.</p><p></p><p>P.S. Here's a link to a nice summary article discussing Proposed NEC changes Re: generators</p><p><a href="http://www.necplus.org/Features/Pages/2014NECProposedChangesforGeneratorSafety.aspx?sso=0" target="_blank">http://www.necplus.org/Features/Pages/2014NECProposedChangesforGeneratorSafety.aspx?sso=0</a></p><p></p><p>One thing mentioned in the summary article is amending 445.11 to require the generator markings to clearly state the bonding state of the neutral (ROP 13-10). I would heartily support this clarification on the front of every generator.</p><p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma'"></span></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Phil Graham, post: 7511, member: 430"] Everyone, In preparation for an upcoming FOH article on generators, I've be reviewing the NEC and OSHA code, especially as it relates to GFCIs. The requisite "I am not an electrician" disclaimer here. --- [B]GFCI and OSHA[/B] As it stands today, here is OSHA's stance:[INDENT][B][COLOR=black][URL="http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owalink.query_links?src_doc_type=STANDARDS&src_unique_file=1926_0404&src_anchor_name=1926.404(b)(1)(ii)"]1926.404(b)(1)(ii)[/URL][/COLOR][/B] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Tahoma]Ground-fault circuit interrupters. All 120-volt, single-phase 15- and 20-ampere receptacle outlets on construction sites, which are not a part of the permanent wiring of the building or structure and which are in use by employees, shall have approved ground-fault circuit interrupters for personnel protection. Receptacles on a two-wire, single-phase portable or vehicle-mounted generator rated not more than 5kW, where the circuit conductors of the generator are insulated from the generator frame and all other grounded surfaces, need not be protected with ground-fault circuit interrupters. [/FONT][/COLOR][/INDENT] [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Tahoma] This means that for generators under 5KW, where there is no neutral/ground bonding (e.g. Honda EU2000 and EU3000), then the overcurrent protection need not be GFCI. This also means it apperas that the Honda EU6500i isn't compliant for OSHA regulated environments (no GFCI, more thank 5kW). --- [B]GFCI in the NEC 2013 Draft[/B] NEC 210.8 sets the general precedent of requiring GFCI outdoors for single phase 115V 15a and 20a branch circuits, and this is echoed in 215.9 for feeders to such circuits. In the 2013 NEC draft, a proposed new section now seems relevant. Let's start with all of the existing NEC 590.6 "Ground Fault Protection for Personnel" and specifically 590.6(A)(3), as the new section appears to start here. [I]590.6 is targeted specifically at construction, demolition, and maintenance, but see how it related to the proposed 445.20 below:[/I] [/FONT][/COLOR][INDENT][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Tahoma]"[B]590.6(A)(3) [/B][/FONT][/COLOR][B]Receptacles on 15-kW or less Portable Generators.[/B][/INDENT] [INDENT]All 125-volt and 125/250-volt, single-phase, 15-, 20-, and 30-ampere receptacle outlets that are a part of a 15-kW or smaller portable generator shall have listed ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel. All 15- and 20-ampere, 125- and 250-volt receptacles, including those that are part of a portable generator, used in a damp or wet location shall comply with 406.9(A) and (B).[I] Listed cord sets or devices incorporating listed ground-fault circuit interrupter protection for personnel identified for portable use shall be permitted for use with 15-kW or less portable [/I][I]generators manufactured or remanufactured prior to January 1, 2011.[/I] [Emphasis mine]"[/INDENT] Now compare that to the new NEC 445.20, proposed under ROP 13-19:[INDENT]"[B]445.20 Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter Protection for Receptacles on 15 kW or Smaller, Portable Generators.[/B][/INDENT] [INDENT]All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- 20-, and 30-ampere receptacle outlets, that are a part of a 15 kW or smaller, portable[/INDENT] [INDENT]generator, shall have ground-fault circuit interrupter protection for personnel integral to the generator or receptacle.[/INDENT] [INDENT][ROP 13–19]"[/INDENT] While NEC 590.6 sets up a more stringent expectation than OSHA does, 590.6 does have a specific exception:[INDENT]"[I]Exception: In industrial establishments only, where conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified personnel are involved, an assured equipment[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT][I]grounding conductor program as specified in 590.6(B)(2) shall be permitted for only those receptacle outlets used to supply equipment that would create a greater hazard if[/I][/INDENT] [INDENT][I]power were interrupted or having a design that is not compatible with GFCI protection.[/I]"[/INDENT] By contrast, the proposed NEC 445.20 follows in the footsteps of 590.6, but without any exceptions, and the exclusion of 250V circuits. --- I'm by no means a code expert, but I read this new proposed section as potentially causing compliance problems for the existing small Honda generators that are popular in our industry, as they don't provide GFCI. I'm not saying that AHJ will suddenly start having issues, but it does seem like a problem could exist with certain inspectors. Curious if anyone else has any input. P.S. Here's a link to a nice summary article discussing Proposed NEC changes Re: generators [URL]http://www.necplus.org/Features/Pages/2014NECProposedChangesforGeneratorSafety.aspx?sso=0[/URL] One thing mentioned in the summary article is amending 445.11 to require the generator markings to clearly state the bonding state of the neutral (ROP 13-10). I would heartily support this clarification on the front of every generator. [COLOR=#000000][FONT=Tahoma] [/FONT][/COLOR] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Home
Forums
Low Earth Orbit
Lighting & Electrical
NEC 2013 Draft, OSHA, and Generators - Details and Discussion (long)
Top
Bottom
Sign-up
or
log in
to join the discussion today!
