620.16 Elevators. Short-Circuit Current Rating.

The elevator control panel shall not be installed where the available fault current exceeds its short-circuit current rating.
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The elevator control panel shall not be installed where the available fault current exceeds its short-circuit current rating.

NEC Section 620.16(A) requires the short-circuit current rating (SCCR) to be marked on elevator control panels. There are two methods permitted in 620.16 for the required SCCR marking:

  1. Use a listed and labeled elevator control panel assembly that will already be marked with the SCCR as part of the product listing requirement.
  2. Determine the SCCR of the elevator control panel using an approved method and mark it on the control panel. NEC® Article 100 defines the term “Approved” as “Acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction” (the inspector).

The inspector may or may not want to be responsible for allowing item 2 above since it leaves liability in the hands of the inspection agency. The informational note mentions Supplement SB in UL 508A as one example of an “approved” method. The city inspector will generally not have a copy of the standard in order to know what Supplement SB actually says.

NEC Section 620.16(B) has similar language to what is found in 409.22 for industrial control panels. Elevator control panels shall not be installed where the available fault current exceeds the SCCR of the control panel, as marked in accordance with 620.16(A).

See the actual NEC® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on the “free access” tab and select the applicable year of NFPA 70 (National Electrical code).

2020-2023 Code Language:

620.16 Short-Circuit Current Rating.

(A) Marking. Where an elevator control panel is installed, it shall be marked with its short-circuit current rating, based on one of the following:

(1) Short-circuit current rating of a listed assembly

(2) Short-circuit current rating established utilizing an approved method

Informational Note: UL 508A-2013, Standard for Industrial Control Panels, Supplement SB, is an example of an approved method.

(B) Installation. The elevator control panel shall not be installed where the available fault current exceeds its short-circuit current rating, as marked in accordance with 620.16(A).

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620.16 Elevators. Short-Circuit Current Rating.

Below is a Real Question from our Electrical Continuing Education Courses for Electrical License Renewal:

Which of the following is true for an elevator control panel installed where the available fault current is 58kA?

A: It must be marked with the minimum available fault current.
B: Fault current calculations must be marked inside the equipment.
C: It must be marked with the date of installation.
D: The elevator control panel must have a SCCR of at least 58kA.
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