How does the 2023 NEC affect AC/refrigeration unit placement near wet locations?
Overview
Treating an air-conditioning or refrigerating system as a single machine simplifies its electrical design, requiring fewer controllers and disconnect switches. However, certain wet locations pose electric shock hazards, prohibiting the installation of these components. This critical information was not addressed in previous NEC editions, resulting in improper installations. A new amendment in Section 440.8 of NEC 2023 now mandates that no components of these single-machine systems are within 3 feet horizontally and 8 feet vertically from wet locations such as bathtub rims and shower stalls.
Applying the 2023 Code
An air-conditioning or refrigerating system can be treated as a single machine, where all its components—compressors, fans, and other units—are regarded as parts of a cohesive and integrated unit for electrical purposes. This classification simplifies the electrical design and management of the system: even if various parts of the system are located in different places, they must be viewed as one entity. For example, in split systems where the compressor is separate from the fans, the NEC allows the system to have only one controller and operate using just one disconnect switch, as outlined in NEC Sections 430.87 and 430.112, respectively. This approach ensures the system is managed as a unified electrical entity, promoting efficiency and simplicity in control system design.
Previous editions of the NEC did not explicitly describe permitted locations for installing these different components. However, the 2023 edition addressed this by amending Section 440.8. The amendment now mandates that no components be installed within a zone of 3 feet horizontally and 8 feet vertically from the top of wet locations, such as bathtub rims and shower stalls. This addition enhances the protection of human life by preventing potential electric shock hazards from air-conditioning and refrigerating devices installed in such locations.
What’s New for the 2023 NEC?
The table below presents a comparison between the 2020 NEC and the 2023 NEC regarding Section 440.8.
2020 NEC |
2023 NEC |
| 440.8 Single Machine
An air-conditioning or refrigerating system shall be considered to be a single machine under the provisions of 430.87, Exception No. 1, and 430.112, Exception. The motors shall be permitted to be located remotely from each other. |
440.8 Single Machine and Location
An air-conditioning or refrigerating system shall be considered to be a single machine under the provisions of 430.87, Exception No. 1, and 430.112, Exception. The motors shall be permitted to be located remotely from each other. Air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment shall not be installed within a zone measured 900 mm (3 ft) horizontally and 2.5 m (8 ft) vertically from the top of a bathtub rim or shower stall threshold. The zone shall be all-encompassing and include the space directly over the tub or shower stall. |
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