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Material taken from the National Electric Code
®
is reprinted with permission
from NFPA 70
®
, 2023 edition. National Electrical Code
®
, Copyright 2022,
National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. All rights reserved.
NEC
®
Text
New
410.71 Disconnecting Means for
Double-Ended Fluorescent or LED Lamps
Change Summary
• New section addresses disconnecting means for
double-ended lamps — LED and Fluorescent.
Article 410 Luminaires, Lampholders, and Lamps
410.71 Disconnecting Means for Fluorescent or LED
Luminaires that Utilize Double-Ended Lamps.
(1) General. In indoor locations other than dwellings
and associated accessory structures, uorescent or LED
luminaires that utilize double-ended lamps and contain
ballast(s) or LED driver(s) that can be serviced in place
shall have a disconnecting means either internal or external
to each luminaire. For existing installed luminaires without
disconnecting means, at the time a ballast or LED driver is
added or replaced a disconnecting means shall be installed.
The line side terminals of the disconnecting means shall
be guarded.
Exception No. 1: A disconnecting means shall not be required for luminaires
installed in hazardous (classied) location(s).
Exception No. 2: A disconnecting means shall not be required for luminaires
that provide emergency illumination required in 700.16.
Exception No. 3: For cord-and-plug-connected luminaires, an accessible
separable connector or an accessible plug and receptacle shall be permitted
to serve as the disconnecting means.
Exception No. 4: Disconnecting means shall not be required for every
luminaire in a building area if all of the following conditions apply:
(1) More than one luminaire is installed in the building area
(2) The luminaires are not connected to a multiwire branch circuit
(3) The design of the installation includes disconnecting means
(4) The building area will not be left in total darkness should only one
disconnect be opened
(2) Multiwire Branch Circuits. When connected to
multiwire branch circuits, the disconnecting means shall
simultaneously break all the supply conductors to the ballast,
including the grounded conductor.
(3) Location. The disconnecting means shall be located so
as to be accessible to qualied persons before servicing or
maintaining the ballast. Where the disconnecting means is
external to the luminaire, it shall be a single device, and it
shall be attached to the luminaire or the luminaire shall be
located within sight of the disconnecting means.
Expert Analysis
A new section has been added to address the
disconnecting means requirements for fluorescent
or LED luminaires that utilize double-ended lamps.
The original requirements for double-ended lamp
fluorescent ballast replacements were due to an