Going to disagree with you Mike.
(B) Appliances Rated Over 300 Volt-Amperes or 1⁄8
Horsepower. For permanently connected appliances rated
over 300 volt-amperes or 1⁄8 hp, the branch-circuit switch or
circuit breaker shall be permitted to serve as the disconnecting
means where the switch or circuit breaker is within
sight from the appliance or is capable of being locked in the
open position. The provision for locking or adding a lock to
the disconnecting means....
Brother Jim look down one more code section and find this one;
422.32 Disconnecting Means for Motor-Driven Appliance.
If a switch or circuit breaker serves as the disconnecting means for a permanently connected motor-driven appliance of more than 1⁄8 hp, it shall be located within sight from the motor controller and shall comply with Part IX of Article 430.
Exception: If a motor-driven appliance of more than 1⁄8 hp is provided with a unit switch that complies with 422.34(A), (B), (C), or (D), the switch or circuit breaker serving as the other disconnecting means shall be permitted to be out of sight from the motor controller.
What you posted was for an appliance that does not have a motor. Just because something is rated in horse power does not mean it is a motor. Look at motor controllers. They are rated in horse power but the only control the motor. Check out the rating of this switch
http://www.intermatic.com/products/t...ers/st01c.aspx
This switch is not a motor but it is rated at 1 hp at 120 volts and 2 hp at 240 volts
here is a motor stater that is "rated" in horse power but there is no motor
http://www.pacificex.com.au/pdf/PEX-catalog-0112-0112.pdf
The section you posted is for appliances of over 300 watts or that are rated over one eighth horse power. There in nothing in that section that concerns motors. Appliances with motors is one more section down
Here is a section concerning energy savings. Look at how they have rated the airconditioners
Energy ratings system
The familiar yellow stickers with energy ratings stars that appear on major electrical household appliances are a legal requirement across Australia. Energy labels are a government service designed to inform consumers about energy consumption. They are mandatory on the following appliances:
Refrigerators and freezers
Clothes washers
Clothes dryers
Dishwashers
Airconditioners
The star rating is calculated on how efficient a product is, not just how much energy it uses. For example, a 3.5 horsepower airconditioner will use more energy than a 1 horsepower airconditioner. But the larger airconditioner will have a higher rating if it uses the energy in a more effective way.
As one can see the airconditioners are not rated in tonage but instead rated in horse power.
In the lab one horse power is equal to 746 watts of electrical energy.