NEC_PRACTICE NEC 2026

NEC 2026 Practice Test - Emergency Disconnects (230.85)

Practice questions on the emergency disconnect rules in 230.85 of the 2026 NEC. Covers location, marking, ratings, and the dwelling-vs-other-than-dwelling split.

TOPICS COVERED

Services

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NEC 2026 Practice Test - Emergency Disconnects (230.85) — Question List

Question 1: Per the 2026 NEC, an emergency disconnect for a one-family dwelling must be installed in which of the following locations?

Anywhere within the dwelling, as long as it is unlocked
A readily accessible outdoor location
In the attached garage only
In the basement near the service panel

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.85(A)

Question 2: Which of the following pieces of equipment satisfies the emergency disconnect requirement of 230.85 in the 2026 NEC?

A meter disconnect installed per 230.82(3) and marked as the emergency disconnect
The main breaker of an interior subpanel
A 200A indoor service panel mounted in the laundry room
Any feeder disconnect downstream of the service

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.85(A)(1) through (3)

Question 3: The emergency disconnect required by 230.85 in the 2026 NEC must be marked with which of the following labels?

"SHUT-OFF SWITCH"
"EMERGENCY DISCONNECT" with the appropriate sub-label
No marking — the red color of the handle is enough
"FIRE DEPARTMENT USE ONLY"

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.85(E)

Question 4: Per the 2026 NEC, the emergency disconnect must simultaneously open which of the following?

All conductors, including the grounded conductor
All ungrounded service conductors
Only the line-to-line ungrounded pair
The equipment grounding conductor

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.85

Question 5: A two-family dwelling has two services on the exterior wall. Per the 2026 NEC, how many emergency disconnects are required?

One — a single shared disconnect is permitted
Two — one for each service
Zero — only one-family dwellings are covered
Three — one for each unit plus a common one

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.85(A)

Question 6: Per the 2026 NEC, the emergency disconnect required by 230.85 applies to which type of building?

One-family and two-family dwelling units
Any building over 50 amps
Multi-family dwellings of any size
Commercial occupancies only

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.85

Question 7: A separate emergency disconnect ahead of the service equipment must be marked with which exact phrase per the 2026 NEC?

"EMERGENCY DISCONNECT, METER DISCONNECT"
"EMERGENCY DISCONNECT, SERVICE DISCONNECT"
"EMERGENCY DISCONNECT, NOT SERVICE EQUIPMENT"
"EMERGENCY SHUT-OFF, FIRE DEPT USE"

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.85(E)(3)

Question 8: The 2026 NEC requires that the emergency disconnect marking be made of which type of material or method?

Permanent markings of sufficient durability for the environment
Pencil on the cover plate
A peel-and-stick label only
No specific durability is required

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.85(E) / 110.21(B)

Question 9: A homeowner has an existing 200A indoor service installed under the 2017 NEC. The dwelling is being re-roofed only, with no electrical work. Per the 2026 NEC, must an emergency disconnect now be added?

No, existing services are not retroactively required to comply
Yes, the moment a 2026 permit is pulled the disconnect is required
Only if the service amperage changes
Only if the dwelling is sold

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.85, scope

Question 10: Where two to six emergency disconnects are grouped per 230.85 of the 2026 NEC, what is required regarding their operation?

They must all be opened by a single handle
Each must be marked and may be operated individually
They must all be tied together with a metal handle tie
Only the largest one needs the emergency disconnect marking

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.85(D) / 230.71

Question 11: Per the 2026 NEC, the emergency disconnect for a one-family dwelling must be installed where it is readily accessible. "Readily accessible" in Article 100 means:

Capable of being reached quickly without ladders or removing obstacles
Behind a locked closet door
Within sight of the meter, regardless of access
Anywhere on the property

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — Article 100 / 230.85

Question 12: A one-family dwelling has a meter combo that includes the service disconnect inside the meter enclosure. Per the 2026 NEC, may this equipment serve as the emergency disconnect?

Yes, with the proper "EMERGENCY DISCONNECT, SERVICE DISCONNECT" marking
No — meter combos are excluded
Only if a separate emergency device is added
Only if the dwelling is rural

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.85(A)(1)

Question 13: Per the 2026 NEC, when the emergency disconnect is a separate device ahead of the service equipment, the conductors between the disconnect and the service equipment are considered to be:

Branch-circuit conductors
Service conductors
Feeder conductors only
Tap conductors per 240.21(B)

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.85(C)

Question 14: A 200A emergency disconnect is mounted on the exterior wall. Per the 2026 NEC, what is the minimum required short-circuit current rating (SCCR) of the disconnect?

Equal to or greater than the available short-circuit current at its line terminals
No specific SCCR is required
Always 22 kA, regardless of available SCC
Only the breaker frame size matters

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 110.10 / 230.85

Question 15: Per the 2026 NEC, the emergency disconnect required by 230.85 must be capable of being operated by:

Hand operation without specialized tools
Only with a key from the utility
Only with a 6-foot operating handle
Only by a licensed electrician

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.85(B)

Question 16: Per the 2026 NEC, an emergency disconnect installed on the exterior of a dwelling must be enclosed in equipment with a NEMA rating of at least:

NEMA 1
NEMA 3R
NEMA 7
NEMA 9

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 312.2 / 230.62 / 230.85

Question 17: A two-family dwelling has a single 400A service split into two 200A disconnects, both grouped at the exterior. Per the 2026 NEC, how should the emergency disconnect requirement be satisfied?

A separate single emergency disconnect ahead of both 200A disconnects
Both 200A disconnects are marked as emergency disconnects (one per dwelling)
Only one of the two 200A disconnects must be marked
No emergency disconnect is needed for two-family dwellings

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.85(D)

Question 18: Per the 2026 NEC, the emergency disconnect must be located:

In a basement utility room
In a readily accessible outdoor location
In an attached attic space
In any location chosen by the installer

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.85(A)

Question 19: A meter disconnect installed under 230.82(3) of the 2026 NEC and used as the emergency disconnect must be:

Marked, listed, and suitable for use as service equipment
Operable only by the utility
Locked at all times
Painted red regardless of marking

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.82(3)

Question 20: A solar PV system is interconnected at the load side of a dwelling's service equipment. Per the 2026 NEC, does the emergency disconnect for 230.85 need to also disconnect the PV?

No — the PV has its own disconnects and rapid shutdown per Article 690
Yes — 230.85 always includes PV
Only if the PV is over 30 kW
Only if the PV uses microinverters

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.85 / 690.13

Question 21: Refer to the service entrance diagram. The disconnect labeled "EMERGENCY DISCONNECT 230.85" is a stand-alone device between the meter and the indoor service panel. Where, per the 2026 NEC, is the actual service disconnect located in this arrangement?

Service entrance with exterior emergency disconnect feeding an indoor service panel containing the main breaker

In the meter socket
In the indoor service panel main breaker
Both the exterior device and the indoor panel act as service disconnects
No service disconnect is required when an emergency disconnect is provided

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.70 / 230.85(A)(3)

Question 22: Per the 2026 NEC, the marking on the emergency disconnect must comply with the durability requirements of:

Article 100 only
110.21(B)
230.50(A) only
No durability rule applies

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 110.21(B)

Question 23: A homeowner is replacing a damaged 200A service mast and meter on an existing one-family dwelling, and the local AHJ requires compliance with the 2026 NEC. Is an emergency disconnect now required as part of the work?

Yes, when the service is materially altered the AHJ generally requires 230.85 compliance
No — existing services are always exempt
Only if the service is upsized
Only if the meter location moves

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.85, scope

Question 24: Per the 2026 NEC 230.85, the emergency disconnect in a one-family dwelling is intended to:

Replace the service disconnect entirely
Allow first responders to shut off power from outside the dwelling
Disconnect only the air conditioning circuit
Function only as a meter test switch

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 230.85 commentary

Question 25: A dwelling has a 200A overhead service. The meter is 5 ft above grade and the proposed exterior emergency disconnect is mounted directly below the meter. Per the 2026 NEC, the operating handle of the disconnect, in its highest position, must be no higher than what distance above grade?

4 ft
5 ft
6 ft 7 in (2.0 m)
8 ft

NEC Reference: NEC 2026 — 404.8(A)

NEC 2026 Practice Test - Emergency Disconnects (230.85)

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