• 230.85 Emergency Disconnect 

For one- and two-family dwelling units, all service conductors shall terminate in disconnecting means having a short-circuit current rating equal to or greater than the available fault current, installed in a readily accessible outdoor location. If more than one disconnect is provided, they shall be grouped. Each disconnect shall be one of the following: 

(1) Service disconnects marked as follows: EMERGENCY DISCONNECT, SERVICE DISCONNECT 

(2) Meter disconnects installed per 230.82(3) and marked as follows: EMERGENCY DISCONNECT, 

METER DISCONNECT, NOT SERVICE EQUIPMENT 

(3) Other listed disconnect switches or circuit breakers on the supply side of each service disconnect that are suitable for use as service equipment and marked as follows: EMERGENCY DISCONNECT, NOT SERVICE EQUIPMENT. Markings shall comply with 110.21(B) 

Section 230.85 was reorganized into the following first-level subdivisions:

    (A) General

    (B) Disconnects

    (C) Replacement

    (D) Identification of Other Isolation Disconnects

General requirements now provide clarity on the location requiring that this disconnect is located in a readily accessible outdoor location and have an SCCR equal to or greater than the available fault current.  Also, details on grouping when more than one disconnecting means is provided requiring that when more than one disconnecting means are provided they must be grouped.  

Replacements are addressed when service equipment is replaced requiring 230.85 be met.

Clarity is also provided as part of 230.85(D) for identification of other isolation disconnects and marking requirements.

This new language is primarily to aid first responders by providing a disconnecting means to a dwelling that is readily accessible, outside of the structure, and easily functional without extensive electrical training. This emergency disconnect for dwellings will offer a rapid means for first responders to de-energize the site without entry or prior knowledge of the structure’s main breaker location. 

In the past, removing the meter to the service has often been considered a de-energizing solution for first responders. Neither meter sockets nor electrical meters are proper service disconnecting means and this removal action could create an environment causing shock for the first responder. Article 230.85 now requires an emergency disconnect in a readily available outdoor location to provide a safe method of power interruption to the dwelling.