ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Apartment building Panels (Main required???)

From 1965 NEC....

230-75
Multiple occupancy.
In multiple occupancy building, each occupant shall have access to his disconecting means. A multiple occupancy building having individual occupancy above the second floor shall have service equipment grouped in a common accessable place, the disconnecting means consisting of not more than six switches or six circuit breakers. Multiple occupancy buildings that do not have individual occupancy above the second floor may have service conductors run to each occupancy in accordance with 230-2, Exception # 3 and each such service may have not more than six switches or circuit breakers.

230-72 in '65 is 'Connections to Terminals'

Oldest NEC in possesion

Look at this from a practical sense. You show up to a condo, doing a panel swap out and the manager with the key is nowhere to be found right then.
Do you want to work that feeder hot?
Does the customer want to pay your hourly rate while they try to find him?
Do you want to push your whole schedule down a day while you wait?

Greg:
Yes I remember a few times that I, or one of my teams had to wait for the 'Key Man'.

This is most illuminating.

Looking back, all of the places where I recall NOT having access to the main disconnect - the unit panels didn't even have main breakers - all date from the early 60's.

Let's see if we can backtrack this one a bit more ....

230.72(C) states that in a multi-occupantcy building the occupants required to have access to their service disconnect. Granted it is not black and white but the building main would not be consided the occupants main so in a round about way, I would say the NEC does require a seperate diconnect per unit.

I agree. I'm just confused by all the places I've seen that lack such an accessible disconnect. That's why I'd love to get a date on this requirement.

The 1947 NEC has 2371(c) that addresses "More than 1 building under single management", and states that the disconnects must be "accessible to the occupants of the building served".

I've got a '30's something NEC (lacking the front cover), that doesn't require the same.

I think the AHJs have a lot of flexibility on what "accessible" means. They may be saying that is long as you don't have to disturb the building finish it is accessible.
I would say if you have to "jimmy" the lock to get in the mechanical room you have disturbed the finish