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Important Technical and Informational Updates

Ballast Disconnect Devices - Why and When to Use Them

Effective Jan. 1, 2008: within Part XIII, Section 410.73(G) has been added to the 2005 NEC
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Luminaire Ballast Disconnect (BD)

Fluorescent luminaires (fixtures) are often serviced while energized to avoid removing illumination from an area, including the replacement of ballasts. In fact, a leading cause of fatalities for electricians is electrocution while working on 277-volt lighting systems.

When the electrician gets to the wire nut with the white wires (neutrals), the thought is that these are grounded conductors, and therefore, are not hazardous. In fact, these white wires carry the unbalanced load current from all phases of the white wires. So when the electrician opens the wire nut and gets between two of the white wires, shock or electrocution can result.

In an effort to provide safer working conditions for those who perform this type of service, a new National Electrical Code (NEC) requirement—Article 410.73(G) Disconnecting Means for Electric-Discharge Lighting Systems—has been added.

Effective Jan. 1, 2008: within Part XIII, Sections 410.130(G) and 410.73(G) have been added to the 2005 NEC, requiring a disconnecting means (BD) for ballasted luminaires installed in an indoor location for commercial and industrial installations. Dwellings and accessory buildings for dwellings are exempted from this requirement. A similar requirement is currently in effect via the Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1, 30-308(4) Canada, 2006 Edition.

You should verify with the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) whether this provision applies when replacing ballast or retrofitting existing luminaires in place.

A two wire BD is required for each ballast. If switching or dimming is envolved a three wire BD is required. This requirement can be met by either the manufacturer or the installer. Ultimately it is the installers responsibility to add the disconnect externally if an internal one isn't built into the product. Crownlite is taking the position that, in general, this is a Distributor/contractor supplied item.

As of January, 2008 customers will have the following options:

1. We can supply separate UL listed BD wiring devices as an accessory for you or your customer to install as they install the fixtures.
    a. Customers wishing to have BDs added to there POs as a separate accessory (not wired in) must specify the "BDK" suffix in all catalogue numbers.
    b. Please consult the factory for the Distributor Net adder to the price. Pricing will depend on quantity.
    c. One device is required for each ballast (see below).

2. We can supply and install UL listed BD wiring devices as an option for customers wishing to have the wiring devices pre-wired into their fixtures.
    a. Customers wishing to have BDs added to there POs as a pre-wired in option must specify the "BD" suffix in all catalogue numbers.
    b. Please consult the factory for the Distributor Net adder to the price. Pricing will depend on quantity.
    c. One device is required for each ballast.
    d. When using emergency power packs (EML) at least two BDs will be required.
      i. One BD for the black and white
      ii. A second BD for the EML.
      iii. Customers will need to specify 120v or 277v to have the EML BD pre-wired in.

    e. When using switching (SW), or dimmer ballast (DIM) with a separate control lead, a three wire BD is required.

3. Fixtures purchased with whips and connectors, or other pre-installed (I.E. plug-in PIWS) wiring systems, will automatically be priced with the BD included. This is the only case where the manufacturer must pre-install the BDs.
    a. Please consult the factory for the Distributor Net adder to the price. Pricing will depend on quantity.
    b. One device is required for each ballast.

4. When using an Occupancy Sensor (OS) the BD will be installed between the ballast and the line. The OS may still be “hot”.

If you have any questions please contact your sales representative or the call the factory.

Effective until Jan. 1, 2008, within Part XIII, Section 410.73(G) has been added to the 2005 NEC, requiring a disconnecting means for ballasted luminaires installed in an indoor location for commercial and industrial installations. Dwellings and accessory buildings for dwellings are exempted from this requirement. A similar requirement is currently in effect via the Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1, Canada, 2006 Edition.

The new rule requires a disconnecting means for any fluorescent luminaire that contains a ballast, has double-ended lamps with twin pins on each end-and where the luminaire can be serviced in place without removing it.

This requirement can be met by either the manufacturer or the installer. Ultimately it is the installers responsibility to add the disconnect externally if an internal one isn't built into the product.

Additionally, any ballasted luminaire that is supplied from a multi-wire branch circuit where the luminaire can be serviced in place must have a disconnecting means.

With both the double-ended fluorescent and the fluorescent connected to a multi-wire branch circuit, the disconnecting means must be installed at each luminaire, but it can be mounted on the exterior or the interior of the luminaire.

This disconnecting means is required to simultaneously disconnect the entire source of supply of all conductors to the ballast, including any grounded or neutral conductor.

Any disconnect switch installed either within or on the luminaire must have the line side of the switch guarded or insulated to minimize any inadvertent contact with an energized circuit while a person is servicing the luminaire. This disconnecting means must be located on the luminaire so as to be accessible to a qualified person before that person starts servicing it.

There are five exceptions to this new rule:

1. The first does not require a disconnecting means for luminaires installed in hazardous (classified) locations.
2. The second exception eliminates the need for this disconnect on emergency egress lighting based on Section 700.16.
3. The third exception allows cord- and plug-connected luminaires with an accessible separable connector or an accessible plug and receptacle.
4. The fourth exception applies to industrial establishments with restricted public access where conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified people will service the installation and the facility has written service procedures for these luminaires.
5. The fifth exception permits the disconnecting means on each individual luminaire to be eliminated if there is more than one luminaire installed, an individual branch circuit (not a multi-wire branch circuit) supplies the luminaires, the design of the installation includes locally accessible disconnecting means (such as switches on the wall), and the space cannot be left in total darkness while servicing the luminaire.
This exception does not take into consideration any ambient light that may be available from outside windows. It also does not permit the disconnecting means to be deleted where only one luminaire exists in a small office area, even if adjacent lighting from a corridor or a larger office area could provide enough ambient light to safely illuminate the area.


410.73 GENERAL
This rule was added to require disconnecting means for fluorescent luminaires that have double-ended lamps and contain ballasts. However, it isn't effective until Jan. 1, 2008.

(G) Disconnecting Means. In indoor locations, other than dwellings and associated accessory structures, fluorescent luminaires that utilize double-ended lamps and contain ballast(s) that can be serviced in place or re-ballasted must have a disconnecting means, to disconnect simultaneously all conductors of the ballast, including the grounded (neutral) conductor if any. The disconnecting means must be accessible to qualified persons. This requirement will become effective Jan. 1, 2008.

    Ex 1: A disconnecting means isn't required for luminaires installed in hazardous (classified) location(s).
    Ex 2: A disconnecting means isn't required for emergency illumination required in 700.16.
    Ex 3: For cord-and-plug-connected luminaires, an accessible separable connector or an accessible plug and receptacle is permitted to serve as the disconnecting means.
    Ex 4: A disconnecting means isn't required in industrial establishments with restricted public access where written procedures and conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified persons service the installation.
    Ex 5: Where more than one luminaire is installed and supplied by other than a multi-wire branch circuit, a disconnecting means isn't required for every luminaire when the design of the installation includes locally accessible disconnects, such that the illuminated space won't be left in total darkness.


Note:

A multi-wire branch circuit is defined in Article 100 as a branch circuit that consists of two or more ungrounded conductors that have a voltage between them, and a grounded conductor that has equal voltage between it and each ungrounded conductor of the circuit, and is connected to the neutral or grounded conductor of the system.

It would appear exception #5 is valid where only a single phase runs through a given group of fixtures, and there is more that one group of fixtures in that space, and the groups can be separately deenergized.

Should you or your customer have any further questions regarding this article or any Crownlite product,
Please >> Contact Crownlite.

The Crownlite Knowledge Base is supplied as a convenience only. Crownlite assumes no responsibility or liability for: errors, omissions, misinterpretations, relevance, or the application to any purpose, for its Knowledge Base listings. We recommend the reader reconfirm all information before using it for any specific purpose.

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