Breakers as Switches. A hand-operable circuit breaker equipped with a lever or handle, or a power operated circuit breaker capable of being opened by hand in the event of a power failure, shall be permitted to serve as a switch if it has the required number of poles.

FPN: See the provisions contained in 240.81 and 240.83.

404.12 Grounding of Enclosures. Metal enclosures for switches or circuit breakers shall be connected to an equipment grounding conductor as specified in Part IV of Article 250. Metal enclosures for switches or circuit breakers used as service equipment shall comply with the provisions of Part V of Article 250. Where nonmetallic enclosures are used with metal raceways or metal-armored cables, provision shall be made for connecting the equipment grounding conductors).

Except as covered in 404.9(B), Exception, nonmetallic boxes for switches shall be installed with a wiring method that provides or includes an equipment grounding conductor.

404.13 Knife Switches.

(A) Isolating Switches. Knife switches rated at over

1200 amperes at 250 volts or less, and at over 600
amperes at 251 to 600 volts, shall be used only as
isolating switches and shall not be opened under load.

(B) To Interrupt Currents. To interrupt currents over

1200 amperes at 250 volts, nominal, or less, or over 600
amperes at 251 to 600 volts, nominal, a circuit breaker
or a switch of special design listed for such purpose shall
be used.

(C) General-Use Switches. Knife switches of ratings less than specified in 404.13(A) and (B) shall be considered general-use switches.

FPN: See the definition of General-Use Switch in Article
100.

(D) Motor-Circuit Switches. Motor-circuit switches shall be permitted to be of the knife-switch type.

FPN: See the definition of a Motor-Circuit Switch in
Article 100.

404.14 Rating and Use of Snap Switches. Snap switches shall be used within their ratings and as indicated in

404.14(A) through (E).
FPN No. 1: For switches on signs and outline lighting, see
600.6.
FPN No. 2: For switches controlling motors, see 430.83,
430.109, and 430.110.

(A) Alternating-Current General-Use Snap Switch. A

form of general-use snap switch suitable only for use on ac circuits for controlling the following:

(1) Resistive and inductive loads, including electric- discharge lamps, not exceeding the ampere rating of the switch at the voltage involved

(2) Tungsten-filament lamp loads not exceeding the ampere rating of the switch at 120 volts

(3) Motor loads not exceeding 80 percent of the ampere rating of the switch at its rated voltage

(B) Alternating-Current or Direct-Current General-Use Snap Switch. A form of general-use snap switch suitable for use on either ac or dc circuits for controlling the following:

(1) Resistive loads not exceeding the ampere rating of the switch at the voltage applied.

(2) Inductive loads not exceeding 50 percent of the ampere rating of the switch at the applied voltage. Switches rated in horsepower are suitable for controlling motor loads within their rating at the voltage applied.

(3) Tungsten-filament lamp loads not exceeding the ampere rating of the switch at the applied voltage if T-rated.

(C) CO/ALR Snap Switches. Snap switches