Home Inspection & Rule of Six Disconnects

[h0td0g]

My sister is trying to sell her late husband's house, and she's hit a roadblock with the home inspection.

The inspector is saying she needs a main breaker in an eight circuit subpanel that's right next to the main panel. He's citing the "rule of six disconnects" for it.
The thing is, the subpanel is already fed by a single 60 amp breaker from the main panel, and there's only a few feet of cable between them.
It seems to me like that single breaker is the main disconnect.
She's wondering if she's missing something in the code. She looked at a few articles, and they don't seem to apply to her situation.

She's thinking the guy is wrong, but she needs some codes to reference to back her up.
Do you guys have any ideas on what she should do? I want to help her, can I just backfeed the panel with a main breaker, or is there a better way to handle this?

It would be a huge help to get this sorted out.

 

[Rollercoaster of Love]

@h0td0g If the subpanel is already fed by a breaker in the main, that breaker counts as its disconnect under NEC. The inspector might be misreading the rule, so pulling the actual code section could settle it quick.

 

[PGB1]

Hi H0TD0G,

I'm sorry that your sister's husband passed. She surely has more important & emotionally difficult things to do than to deal with an uneducated inspector. (Was this a city electrical inspector or one of those "inspect the whole house" private inspectors? Just curious and guessing not a city electrical inspector.)

Unfortunately, like so many other topics in NFPA 70, there isn't a single statement saying "Do This" or "Do That". The way to find that this is allowed is broken up.

If that sub-panel is in a "separate structure", it will require a main disconnecting means. (Or 6 throws of the hand maximum)
NFPA 70: 225.30 and 225.31
The separate structure is not necessarily a separate building. If there is a fire wall between the source load center and the sub-panel, it could be a separate structure. (Such as apartment buildings)



I believe, from your post, that your sub-panel is NOT in a separate structure.
Therefore she does not need a disconnect in the sub panel. This applies whether the sub panel has one, two, twenty or 42 circuits and whether it is nearby or is far, far away.

Explanation- (Assuming you are covered by NFPA 70) National Electrical Code:
The "Six Throws of The Hand" requirement pertains primarily to "Services". Your sister's sub panel is NOT considered a service. It also applies to sub panels in separate buildings.

Defining "services" will include the service coming from a utility, a transformer, a separately derived source of power and anything that branches off of that without its own disconnecting means (and overcurrent protection). Refer the inspector to: NFPA 70 Article 100 Definitions. NFPA 70 Article 230

A main or 6-throws is required in separate buildings. (Physically two buildings or fire walls separated). The sub then becomes a "service".

Also important is that there is a disconnecting means ahead of the sub panel. (But that has nothing to do with 6-Throws rule). Your sister's sub panel is protected by a disconnect and overcurrent protection in the upstream load center.

Have the inspector person look closely at 230.2 and 230.4 and 225.31 and 225.32

NOTE THIS TO THE INSPECTOR- (In your own politically correct wording...)
Article 225.33(A) is where semi-educated, know every trade home inspectors trip and fall.
The six disconnecting means rule specifies that the disconnects must be in a single enclosure, a group of enclosures or a switchboard. But...
Those 6 DO NOT have to be in the load center that they are feeding. (In your case, the sub panel)


Example-
It is common for me to install 600 volt, 1,200 amp service from a 13,200 volt transformer to a single point in a small factory. That point is a switchboard with, perhaps, 6 disconnects. Those six disconnects will serve panel boards or load centers that may be hundreds or thousands of feet apart. None of those load centers need mains. None need "6 throws of the hand" rule.

To Summarize & Clarify-
Tell the inspector person to study NFPA 70 230.2, 230.4, 225,31, 225.32 and especially 225.33(A). Study Article 100 definitions and all of Article 230 to learn what a service is.

Hope This Helps Make Peace,
Paul

 

[CircuitRick]

My sister is trying to sell her late husband's house, and she's hit a roadblock with the home inspection.

The inspector is saying she needs a main breaker in an eight circuit subpanel that's right next to the main panel. He's citing the "rule of six disconnects" for it.
The thing is, the subpanel is already fed by a single 60 amp breaker from the main panel, and there's only a few feet of cable between them.
It seems to me like that single breaker is the main disconnect.
She's wondering if she's missing something in the code. She looked at a few articles, and they don't seem to apply to her situation.

She's thinking the guy is wrong, but she needs some codes to reference to back her up.
Do you guys have any ideas on what she should do? I want to help her, can I just backfeed the panel with a main breaker, or is there a better way to handle this?

It would be a huge help to get this sorted out.

Sorry for this rough situation. It's a pain dealing with an inspector who is confused about the code. @PGB1 made some good points but the core issue here is a misunderstanding of the rule of six disconnects. That rule applies to a service, which is the main point of connection for a building's electrical system. But your sister's setup is not a service. It's a feeder, correct? A feeder is a circuit that supplies a subpanel and is already protected by a breaker in the main panel. The single 60A breaker in the main panel is the disconnect for the subpanel. Since the subpanel is in the same building, this setup is completely fine and to code. The inspector is likely confusing this with the rules for a service entrance or for a separate structure, so you don't need to do any work on the panel. The best way to handle this is to politely but firmly explain the situation to the inspector. Refer them to NEC Article 240.21(B), which covers feeder taps and shows that overcurrent protection isn't required at the subpanel since the feeder breaker is already in place. Also, point them to Article 225 for separate structures to show them why it doesn't apply. Hope this helps!