Code Change Summary: New code language on emergency electrical disconnects at fuel dispensers brings back the original intent from the 2014 NEC^®.

Section 514.11(A) provides the rules on what equipment, devices, and conductors are required to be shut down when someone triggers the emergency stop switch at a gas station.

During the 2017 code cycle, Section 514.11(A) was completely reworded using extracted text from NFPA 30A Code for Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities and Repair Garages. Unfortunately, when doing so, the following important language was deleted from the existing section: “to disconnect simultaneously from the source of supply, all conductors of the circuits, including the grounded conductor, if any”.

When an emergency disconnect is triggered for a fuel dispenser, all circuit conductors (except the equipment grounding conductors) should be disconnected. The equipment grounding conductor is not the same as the grounded conductor and should not be disconnected since it provides a ground-fault current path and works to keep all connected equipment at the voltage potential.

In the event of an emergency condition warranting the need to trigger the emergency disconnect for a fuel dispenser, no matter what, the equipment grounding conductor should always maintain its connection. This concept was lost during the 2017 code cycle and since then, many inspectors have started requiring ALL conductors including equipment grounding conductors to be disconnected when the emergency stop button it pressed.

In the 2020 NEC^®, the section was revised to include the following new requirement: The emergency shutoff device shall disconnect simultaneously from the source of supply, all conductors of the circuits, including the grounded conductor, if any. Equipment grounding conductors shall remain connected.

Below is a preview of the NEC^®. See the actual NEC^® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the 2020 NEC^® edition of NFPA 70.