Application Guide | 2020 NEC: Significant Changes

Headline
Adjustable-Trip Circuit Breakers
Subheadline
240.6(C) - Restricted Access Adjustable-Trip Circuit Breakers

Code Change Details

2020 NEC
Restricted Access Adjustable-Trip Circuit Breakers. A circuit
breaker(s) that has restricted access to the adjusting means
shall be permitted to have an ampere rating(s) that is equal to
the adjusted current setting (long-time pickup setting).
Restricted access shall be achieved by one of the following
methods:
(1) Located behind removable and sealable covers over the
adjusting means
(2) Located behind bolted equipment enclosure doors
(3) Located behind locked doors accessible only to qualified
personnel
(4) Password protected, with password accessible only to
qualified personnel

Discussion
Section 240.6(C) has been revised for clarity and a new
parenthesis (4) has been added to address new technology.
Access to the adjusting means associated with adjustable-trip
circuit breakers shall be achieved by one of the methods listed.
The new parenthesis (4) adds a password protected option
when the password is accessible only to qualified persons.
Modern electronic trip units provide the ability to set a password
in order to keep unauthorized and/or non-qualified people from
changing the settings.

1
2020 NEC: Significant Changes | Application Guide

Headline
Arc Energy Reduction
Subheadline
240.67 - Arc Energy Reduction

Code Change Details injection testing or another approved method when first
installed on site. This testing shall be conducted by a
2020 NEC qualified person(s) in accordance with the manufacturer’s
Arc Energy Reduction. Where fuses rated 1200A or higher are instructions.
installed, 240.67(A) and (B) shall apply. This requirement shall A written record of this testing shall be made and shall be
become effective January 1, 2020. available to the authority having jurisdiction.
(A) Documentation. Documentation shall be available to those Informational Note: Some energy reduction protection
authorized to design, install, operate, or inspect the systems cannot be tested using a test process of primary
installation as to the location of the fuses. current injection due to either the protection method
Documentation shall also be provided to demonstrate that being damaged such as with the use of fuse technology or
the method chosen to reduce clearing time is set to operate because current is not the primary method of arc
at a value below the available arcing current. detection.

(B) Method to Reduce Clearing Time. A fuse shall have a

clearing time of 0.07 seconds or less at the available arcing
current, or one of the following means shall be provided Discussion
and shall be set to operate at less than the available arcing A few additions have been made to 240.67 with the intent of
current: improving protection for workers that may be exposed to the
(1) Differential relaying dangers of arc flash. There is now a requirement that the
method to reduce clearing time is set to operate at less than the
(2) Energy-reducing maintenance switching with local arcing current. Previously, there was no rule to specify a current
status indicator level at which the system must engage. A documentation
(3) Energy-reducing active arc-flash mitigation system requirement was added so that the calculations used to design
the method to reduce clearing time are recorded and made
(4) Current-limiting, electronically actuated fuses available to authorized persons. Finally, a performance testing
(5) An approved equivalent means section was added to require performance of on-site testing to
show that the method to reduce clearing time functions
Informational Note No. 1: An energy-reducing properly at each installation. A Tentative Interim Amendment
maintenance switch allows a worker to set a disconnect (TIA) was created to clarify the extent of the testing required.
switch to reduce the clearing time while the worker is See TIA 20-4 Log #1451 issued by the NFPA Standards Council
working within an arc-flash boundary as defined in NFPA on August 6, 2019.
70E-2018, Standard for Electrical Safety in the workplace.
Then the worker can set the disconnect switch back to a For testing information calls should be routed through
normal setting after the potentially hazardous work is Siemens Customer Service Center which is available 24/7/365
complete. at 1-877-784-9322 and emails can be sent to our portal at
siespowerstudies.industry@siemens.com
Informational Note No. 2: An energy-reducing active arc-
flash mitigation system helps in reducing arcing duration in
the electrical distribution system. No change in the
disconnect switch or the settings of other devices is
required during maintenance when a worker is working
within an arc-flash boundary as defined in NFPA 70E-2018,
Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace.
Informational Note No. 3: IEEE 1584-2002, IEEE Guide for
Performing Arc Flash Hazard Calculations, is one of the
available methods that provides guidance in determining
arcing current.
(C) Performance Testing. Where a method to reduce clearing
time is required in 240.67(B), the arc energy reduction
system shall be performance tested by primary current