HACR circuit breakers are suitable for any use except switching of fluorescent lights which requires an additional marking of SWD, and switching of high intensity discharge lights which require the breaker to be marked HID. All these markings are applied to a breaker that has already met the standards for use as a circuit breaker.
Some HACR equipment requires fuse protection and cannot rely soley on a circuit breaker, HACR rated or not. What you will usually see on the nameplate is "maximum size fuse or HACR circuit breaker." If the plare just says "Maximum size fuse", then somewhere in the circuit, fuse protection will need to be installed.
From the UL marking guide for molded case circuit breakers. "HACR Type — A circuit breaker that has been found acceptable for use in heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment comprising group motor installations is marked “HACR Type” in conjunction with the UL Mark. This marking alone, however, does not indicate the acceptability of the circuit breaker in these installations. For an acceptable installation, the end-use equipment must be marked to indicate that “HACR Type” circuit breakers may be used for branch circuit overcurrent protection. "
Most 2 pole circuit breakers in sizes up to about 60 or 70 amps now carry the HACR mark so that suppliers do not have to stock too many breaker types. A similar situation exists for single pole breakers in the 15 & 20 amp ratings.
Tom
