NEC 230.62: Barriers in Service Equipment Explained
Service equipment is one of the most dangerous areas of a commercial electrical system. NEC 230.62 exists for one primary reason: to prevent accidental contact with energized service conductors.
For electrical contractors, this section often comes up during inspections of service gear, meter sections, CT cabinets, and switchboards — and failures here are usually instant red tags.
👉 If you’re new to NEC structure, start with our NEC Overview: What It Is and Why It Matters.
👉 For system context, review NEC Services and Feeders Explained before diving into this service-specific safety rule.
What NEC 230.62 Requires
NEC 230.62(A) requires that service equipment be provided with barriers to prevent inadvertent contact with energized service conductors and terminals.
In plain language:
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Any service equipment containing live service conductors must prevent accidental contact
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Barriers must be secure, durable, and effective
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The protection must remain in place even when dead-front covers are removed
This applies to:
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Meter sockets
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CT cabinets
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Service disconnects
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Switchboards and switchgear
Why NEC 230.62 Exists
Unlike downstream feeders, service conductors are not protected by overcurrent devices on the supply side. That means:
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Fault currents can be extremely high
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Arc flash energy can be catastrophic
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Contact with live parts can be fatal
NEC 230.62 reduces this risk by requiring physical separation and shielding between personnel and live service components.
Where Barriers Are Commonly Required
Contractors most often encounter NEC 230.62 issues in:
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Meter-main combinations
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CT-rated service cabinets
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Service switchboards
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Parallel service conductor sections
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Multi-tenant service equipment
Inspectors will often open service equipment during final inspection specifically to verify barrier compliance.
What Counts as an Acceptable Barrier?
Acceptable barriers may include:
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Factory-installed insulating shields
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Metal barriers separating compartments
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Insulated covers over terminals
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Listed dead-front assemblies
⚠️ Tape, cardboard, or field-fabricated makeshift shields do NOT count.
Barriers must be part of a listed assembly or installed per manufacturer instructions.
How NEC 230.62 Ties into Other NEC Articles
NEC 230.62 works in coordination with several other service-related rules:
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NEC 230.71 – Service Disconnecting Means
(Grouping and number of disconnects) -
NEC 230.95 – Ground-Fault Protection of Services
(Protection of equipment) -
NEC 225.31 – Disconnecting Means for Buildings
(For feeder-supplied structures) -
NEC 215.2 – Feeder Conductor Sizing
(Downstream distribution)
Inspectors expect service equipment to comply with all of these simultaneously.
Common Contractor Mistakes
❌ Removing factory barriers and not reinstalling them
❌ Assuming the dead-front alone provides sufficient protection
❌ Using temporary materials as barriers
❌ Failing to follow manufacturer installation instructions
❌ Leaving service conductors exposed inside cabinets
Any of these typically results in immediate inspection failure.
Labeling and Identification
While NEC 230.62 focuses on physical barriers, NEC 110.22 still applies.
Service equipment should be clearly labeled to identify:
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Service disconnect location
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Voltage and hazard warnings
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Ground-fault protection (if applicable)
✅ At Print Pro, we supply NEC-compliant service equipment labels, arc-flash labels, and hazard placards that inspectors expect to see on commercial service gear.
Pro Tips for Contractors
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Never remove factory-installed barriers unless explicitly allowed by the manufacturer
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Always inspect service equipment before calling for final inspection
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If barriers are missing, order OEM replacements — don’t improvise
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Coordinate barrier installation with ground-fault protection requirements
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Label service equipment early to avoid last-minute inspection delays
