34 Pa. Code Ch. 39 — Safety Standards—General

§ 39.176. Grounding. Switchboard frames shall be permanently grounded under the conditions and with the exceptions noted in § 39.103 (relating to protective grounding). If protective grounds are occasionally required on circuits for the protection of workmen, a permanent ground c…

§ 39.177. Guarding live parts. (a) Enclosure. Switchboards operating at over 300 volts to ground and located near passageways shall be guarded from these by suitable inclosures or barriers and shall be made inaccessible to other than authorized persons, unless under constant atte…

LIGHTNING ARRESTERS § 39.181. Location. Lightning arresters when installed inside of buildings shall be located as far as practicable from all other equipment and from combustible parts of the building. Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 39.201 (relating to stor…

§ 39.182. Provisions for disconnecting. (a) Lightning arresters on circuits over 7,500 volts shall be so arranged, isolated, and equipped that they may be readily disconnected from conductors to which they are connected by air break manual disconnectors having air gaps of not les…

§ 39.183. Ground wires. Ground wires shall be run as directly as possible and be of low resistance and ample current capacity. Reference should also be made to § § 39.61—39.70 (relating to methods of protective grounding). Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 39.2…

§ 39.184. Grounding frames. Noncurrent-carrying metal parts of arresters shall be grounded, unless effectively isolated by elevation, or guarded as required for live parts of the voltage of the circuit to which the arrester is connected, and suitably identified as of that voltage…

§ 39.185. Guarding live parts. (a) Current-carrying parts of arresters on circuits above 750 volts, unless effectively isolated by elevation, shall be adequately guarded to protect persons from inadvertent contact with them, or from injury by arcing. (b) Lightning arresters, unle…

§ 39.186. Utilization installations. Lightning arresters when installed for the protection of utilization equipment may be installed on supply lines or service leads either within or without the buildings or inclosures containing the equipment to be protected, and the methods emp…

PROTECTIVE ARRANGEMENTS § 39.191. Applicability. This section and § § 39.192—39.202 (relating to protective arrangements) apply to all installations within this Commonwealth, whether existing, new, reconstructions, extensions, or the like, except as waived or modified in § 39.193…

§ 39.192. Scope. This section and § § 39.191 and 39.193—39.202 (relating to protective arrangements) are specifically directed to the following: (1) Electrical utilization equipment between 25 volts and 750 volts, if accessible to other than qualified electrical operators, as in …

§ 39.193. Modification or waiver of provisions. This section and § § 39.191, 39.192 and 39.194—39.202 (relating to protective arrangements) may be modified or waived by the proper administrative authority or its authorized agents and shall be so modified or waived in any of the f…

§ 39.194. Time for compliance. Time allowed for bringing existing installations into compliance with the rules shall be determined by the proper administrative authority. Cross References This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 39.191 (relating to applicability); 34 Pa. Code § 39.192…

§ 39.195. General requirements. (a) Electrical utilization equipment shall be of such construction and so installed and maintained as to reduce the life hazard as far as practicable. (b) The requirements of the National Electrical (Fire) Code for the installation of wiring and fi…

§ 39.196. Inspections and repairs. (a) Electrical utilization equipment shall comply with this chapter when placed in service, and shall thereafter be periodically inspected, and when necessary, cleaned. Defective equipment shall be put in good order or permanently disconnected. …

§ 39.197. Grounding. (a) Grounding method. Lighting arrester grounding and all grounding of circuits, equipment, or wire runways, which are intended to be a permanent and effective protective measure shall be made in accordance with the methods specified in § § 39.61—39.70 (relat…

§ 39.198. Working space about electrical equipment. (a) Suitable working space shall be provided and maintained about electrical utilization equipment. (b) The working spaces should, if practicable, have minimum horizontal dimensions, when adjacent to exposed live parts within 8 …

§ 39.199. Guarding or isolating live parts. (a) Ungrounded current-carrying parts of electrical utilization equipment, such as bus bars, conductors, and terminals, operating at over 150 volts to ground and not isolated by elevation at least 8 feet above floor line shall, if pract…

§ 39.2. Applicability. This subchapter applies to all establishments within this Commonwealth.

§ 39.200. Hazardous locations. (a) In locations where explosives, inflammable gas, or inflammable flyings normally exist in dangerous quantities all parts at which sparking or arcing is liable to occur shall be enclosed so as to reduce the hazard as far as practicable. (b) This p…

§ 39.201. Storage batteries, transformers, and lightning arresters. (a) The installation of nonportable storage batteries above 50 kilowatt-hour capacity, at the 8 hour rate of discharge, shall be in accordance with the requirements given in § § 39.121—39.127. If small storage ba…

§ 39.202. Identification. (a) Electrical utilization equipment shall be suitably identified, when necessary for safety. (b) The identification may be by position, color, number, nameplate, label, design or other means. (c) The voltage and intended use shall be shown where importa…

RECOMMENDATIONS § 39.21. Machinery—general precautions. (a) No wrench or other tool should be left on a lathe chuck when the operator leaves a machine, as someone else may start the machine and be injured by the object flying off. (b) In order to avoid accidental injury, no emplo…

CONDUCTORS § 39.211. Electrical protection. (a) Conductors shall be suitable for the location, use, and voltage, and each conductor, except neutral conductors, ground wires, and conductors of circuits the opening of which may cause special hazard by the interruption of service or…

§ 39.212. Mechanical and thermal protection. (a) If exposed to mechanical injury, suitable casing, armor, or other means shall be employed to prevent injury or disturbances to conductors, their insulation, or supports. Conductors used as meter loops shall be substantially support…

§ 39.213. Isolating or guarding. Fixed conductors having insulating coverings and operating at over 300 volts to ground, and bare conductors at all voltages shall, unless guarded as required in § 39.214 (relating to guarding conductors) be so isolated by elevation, as required by…

§ 39.214. Guarding conductors. (a) Use of enclosing casings. For enclosing insulated conductors, approved permanently grounded metal conduit, waterproof insulating conduit, or grounded metal conduit, waterproof insulating conduit, or grounded metal sheathing shall be used, except…

§ 39.215. Guarding in damp or hazardous locations. (a) Conductors in damp locations or where exposed to corrosion, if not in waterproofed conduit, or in waterproof metal sheaths in other suitable ducts, shall be effectively isolated and supported on insulators of a suitable type.…

§ 39.216. Precautions to avoid excessive inductance and eddy currents. Supply conductors of alternating-current or direct-current circuits should not be run in separate iron conduits or on opposite sides of I beams or other iron structures or be otherwise run so as to increase ab…

§ 39.217. Pendants and portables. Pendants or portable conductors shall not be installed or used on circuits operating at over 300 volts to ground, unless they are accessible only to persons authorized to approach them. In such cases they shall be of a type suitable for the volta…

§ 39.218. Taping ends and joints. Ends and joints of insulated conductors, unless otherwise adequately guarded, shall have equal insulating covering with other portions of the conductor, and this covering shall be securely held in place.

§ 39.219. Grounding or isolating service conduits. (a) Metal conduit or sheathing encasing service conductors from either overhead or underground lines shall either be permanently grounded as required by § 39.197 (relating to grounding) or effectively isolated by elevation. Refer…

§ 39.22. Yard and internal housekeeping. (a) Clear travelways. All roadways, walkways, aisles, or other foot, crane, or vehicular travelways should be clearly marked or otherwise well defined. They should be kept in good repair and free from all debris and obstacles. All walkways…

§ 39.220. Temporary wiring. Temporary wiring and equipment, which is not in compliance with this chapter, may be used, but only when under competent supervision, or protected by suitable barriers or warning signs while it or neighboring wiring is alive and accessible to any perso…

§ 39.23. Handtools. (a) General. Handtools should only be used if in a safe condition. If unsafe conditions are discovered, they should be immediately reported to the foreman, who shall have them corrected. (b) Handles. Wooden handles of handtools should be of the best straight-g…

FUSES AND OTHER CUT-OUTS, SWITCHES AND CONTROLLERS § 39.231. Accessible and indicating. Switches, automatic cut-outs, controllers, starting rheostats, auto starters and other control devices shall be readily and safely accessible to authorized persons; they shall be so located or…

§ 39.232. Hazardous locations. When necessary to install fuses or other automatic cut-outs, or switches or other control devices in locations where explosives, inflammable gas or inflammable flyings exist, they shall be suitably protected. Reference should also be made to § 39.20…

§ 39.233. Where switches are required. (a) Suitable switches shall be inserted in all feeder conductors connecting utilization installations to service connections from either overhead or underground lines. These switches shall be readily accessible, and as close as practicable t…

§ 39.234. Character of switches and disconnectors. (a) Capacity. Switches used otherwise than as disconnectors shall have a rated capacity sufficient to insure safe interruption, at the working voltage, of the greatest current which they may be required to carry continuously, and…

§ 39.235. Disconnection of fusible cut-outs before handling. (a) Fusible cut-outs in circuits operating at over 150 volts to ground, shall, if practicable, where accessible to others than qualified electrical attendants, be so arranged that the ungrounded current-carrying parts c…

§ 39.236. Arcing or suddenly moving parts. (a) Fuses and circuit breakers shall, as far as possible, be so located and shielded that persons will not be burned by their operation. (b) Handles or levers of circuit breakers and similar parts which may move suddenly in such way that…

§ 39.237. Grounding noncurrent-carrying metal parts. Exposed noncurrent-carrying metal parts of switch and fuse cases, levers, and other similar parts to which leakage may occur from live parts shall be permanently grounded according to the provisions of § 39.197 (relating to gro…

§ 39.238. Guarding live parts of switches and automatic cut-outs. (a) Manual switches, except those under 150 volts to ground and limited to 60 amperes by cut-outs in series, shall have suitable casings or guards protecting the operator from danger of contact with current-carryin…

§ 39.24. Machine tools. (a) Punch presses. Punch press operators should not remove any safeguards without the permission of the foreman. The driving motor on punch presses shall be shut down before dies are changed, and power shears should be shut down before any adjustments are …

SWITCHBOARDS AND PANEL BOARDS § 39.241. Accessibility and convenient attendance. (a) Switchboards and panelboards shall have switches so arranged that the means of control are readily accessible to the operator. (b) Instruments, relays or other devices requiring reading or adjust…

§ 39.242. Location. Switchboards shall, if practicable, be so placed that the persons necessarily near the board are not endangered by machinery or equipment located near the board. Means for adequate illumination shall be provided.

§ 39.243. Arrangement and identification. (a) Connections, wiring and equipment of switchboards and panelboards shall be arranged in an orderly manner and switches and cut-outs shall be plainly marked, labeled or arranged so as to afford ready means for identifying circuits or eq…

§ 39.244. Spacing and barriers against short circuit. (a) Exposed bare parts of different potential on any switchboard or panel shall be as few as practicable and these parts shall be effectively separated. (b) Such parts, including bus bars, should, when practicable, be so locat…

§ 39.245. Grounding frames. Switchboard frames and metal cabinets should be permanently grounded, under the conditions and with the exceptions noted in § 39.197 (relating to grounding).

§ 39.246. Guarding current-carrying parts. (a) Switchboards and panelboards having exposed current-carrying parts operating at over 150 volts to ground and not isolated by elevation at least eight feet above the floor shall when practicable be suitably enclosed in locked cabinets…

§ 39.25. Apparel. (a) General. Superfluous material and loose fitting clothing should be avoided in the presence of a hazard from moving machine parts. Excessively wide or long aprons should not be worn around moving machinery. Aprons should never be tied on with wire and should …