Q: We got a hit on our life safety inspection because we were told the manual shutdown switch be detached from the generator. The deficiency report says “The manual shutdown switch should be located external to the waterproof enclosure of the generator and should be appropriately identified." The manual shut off switches of our generators are on the outside of the waterproof enclosure but they are on the outside of the generator but on the side of it. Just getting some clarification before calling an electrician to put a switch away from generator.

A: The surveyor got it right… the manual shut-down switch must not be connected to the generator containment structure. According to section A.5.6.5.6 of NFPA 110-2010, the manual shut-down switch must be mounted exterior of the weatherproof container for the generator. This was discussed in great length at a recent HITF annual meeting and the conclusion was the same; the manual switch must be mounted separate from the container housing the generator.