California Code of Regulations › Title 8 - Industrial Relations › Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations › Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety › Subchapter 5 - Electrical Safety Orders › Group 1 - Low-Voltage Electrical Safety Orders › Article 70 - Theaters and Similar Locations › PORTABLE SWITCHBOARDS ON STAGE › Section 2552.53 - Construction

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
Portable switchboards for use on stages shall comply
							 with (a) through (j) below:
(a)
						  Enclosure. Portable switchboards shall be placed within an enclosure of
						  substantial construction, which shall be permitted to be so arranged that the
						  enclosure is open during operation. Enclosures of wood shall be completely
						  lined with sheet metal of not less than No. 24 MSG and shall be well
						  galvanized, enameled, or otherwise properly coated to prevent corrosion or be
						  of a corrosion-resistant material.
(b) Live Parts. There shall be no exposed
						  live parts within the enclosure.
EXCEPTION: For dimmer faceplates as provided in (e)
							 below.
(c) Switches and
						  Circuit Breakers. All switches and circuit breakers shall be of the externally
						  operable, enclosed-type.
(d)
						  Circuit Protection. Overcurrent devices shall be provided in each ungrounded
						  conductor of every circuit supplied through the switchboard. Enclosures shall
						  be provided for all overcurrent devices in addition to the switchboard
						  enclosure.
(e) Dimmers. The
						  terminals of dimmers shall be provided with enclosures, and dimmer faceplates
						  shall be so arranged that accidental contact cannot be readily made with the
						  faceplate contacts.
(f) Interior
						  Conductors. All conductors within the switchboard enclosure shall be stranded
						  and approved for an operating temperature of 200°C (392°F).
Each conductor shall have an ampacity at least equal
							 to the rating of the circuit breaker, switch, or fuse which it supplies.
EXCEPTION: Conductors for incandescent lamp circuits
							 having overcurrent protection of not over 20 amperes.
Conductors shall be enclosed in metal wireways or be
							 securely fastened in position and shall be bushed where they pass through
							 metal.
(g) Pilot Light. A
						  pilot light shall be provided within the enclosure and shall be so connected to
						  the circuit supplying the board that the opening of the master switch will not
						  cut off the supply to the lamp. This lamp shall be on an independent circuit
						  having overcurrent protection rated or set at not over 15 amperes.
(h) Supply Connections. The supply to a
						  portable switchboard shall be by means of Type S, SO, ST, or STO flexible cord
						  terminating within the switchboard enclosure or in an externally operable fused
						  master switch or circuit breaker. The supply cable shall have sufficient
						  ampacity to carry the total load connected to the switchboard and shall be
						  protected by overcurrent devices.
EXCEPTION: No. 1: Supply Conductors Not Over 10 Feet
							 Long. In cases where supply conductors do not exceed 10 feet in length between
							 supply and switchboard or supply and a subsequent overcurrent device, the
							 ampacity of the supply conductors shall be at least one-quarter of the ampacity
							 of the supply overcurrent protection device where all of the following
							 conditions are met:
a. The supply
						  conductors shall terminate in a single overcurrent protection device that will
						  limit the load to the ampacity of the supply conductors. This single
						  overcurrent device shall be permitted to supply additional overcurrent devices
						  on its load side.
b. The supply
						  conductors shall not penetrate walls, floors, or ceilings, or be run through
						  doors or traffic areas. The supply conductors shall be adequately protected
						  from physical damage.
c. The supply
						  conductors shall be suitably terminated in an approved manner.
d. Conductors shall be continuous without
						  splices or connectors.
e.
						  Conductors shall not be bundled.
f.
						  Conductors shall be supported above the floor in an approved manner.
EXCEPTION: No. 2: Supply Conductors Not Over 20 Feet
							 Long. In cases where supply conductors do not exceed 20 feet in length between
							 supply and switchboard or supply and a subsequent overcurrent protection
							 device, the ampacity of the supply conductors shall be at least one-half the
							 rating of the supply overcurrent protection device where all of the following
							 conditions are met:
a. The
						  supply conductors shall terminate in a single overcurrent protection device
						  that will limit the load to the ampacity of the supply conductors. This single
						  overcurrent device shall be permitted to supply additional overcurrent devices
						  on its load side.
b. The supply
						  conductors shall not penetrate walls, floors, or ceilings, or be run through
						  doors or traffic areas. The supply conductors shall be adequately protected
						  from physical damage.
c. The supply
						  conductors shall be suitably terminated in an approved manner.
d. The supply conductors shall be supported
						  in an approved manner at least 7 feet above the floor except at
						  terminations.
e. The supply
						  conductors shall not be bundled.
f.
						  Tap conductors shall be in unbroken lengths.