Outdoor emergency disconnect for homes
When service equipment is installed or replaced at a one- or two-family home, an emergency disconnect is required at a readily accessible outdoor spot, on or within sight of the house, labeled in white letters at least ½ in. high on a red background.
What the code requires
The service for a one- or two-family dwelling must have an emergency disconnecting means in a readily accessible outdoor location, on the house or within sight of it. This applies to new services and when service equipment is replaced. Within sight means visible and no more than 50 ft away (110.29).
It can be the service disconnect itself, a meter disconnect built into the meter mounting equipment, or another listed switch or breaker suitable for service equipment on the supply side of each service disconnect. Its short-circuit current rating must be at least the available fault current, and multiple disconnects must be grouped.
The label goes on the outside front of the enclosure in white letters at least ½ in. (13 mm) high on a red background, and must meet 110.21(B). It identifies the device as an emergency disconnect and states whether it is the service disconnect, a meter disconnect, or not service equipment.
If other power sources, such as solar, batteries or a generator, have isolation means that are not next to this disconnect, a plaque or directory here must show where they are.
On the job
- A service replacement that leaves only an indoor main, with no outdoor emergency disconnect, is a common correction.
- A missing or handwritten label, or the wrong color or letter size.
- No directory pointing to a solar, battery or generator disconnect located elsewhere.
Exceptions that matter
- The section does not apply where the 225.41 emergency disconnect rule for feeder-supplied dwellings is met.
- Replacing only meter sockets, service-entrance conductors or their raceways and fittings does not trigger this requirement.
What changed in 2023
The 2023 code reorganized the section into (A) through (E) and added the replacement trigger, the directory for other power-source disconnects and the red-and-white label rule, plus companion section 225.41.
Related sections
- NEC 110.21(B): Requirements for field-applied warning labels
- NEC 110.29
- NEC 225.41
- NEC 230.70: Where the main service disconnect must go
- NEC 230.82
- NEC 705.20: Disconnects for solar and other power sources
- NEC 706.15: Disconnects and emergency shutdown for battery systems
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