Work Space About Electrical Equipment

[TVH]

See attached photo. These technicians are working between a metal wall and 240 v AC TV and Internet equipment that supply services to a construction camp. The rear access is about 15 inches wide as seen in the photo. The rear wall is all metal. There are no exposed electrical parts. Plugs and receptacles are provided at the rear. The narrow work space is subject to periodic inspection, servicing and troubleshooting or repairs as necessary.

Since there are no live parts normally present does this arrangment meet code requirements with respect to 3 feet mimimum clearance space about electrical equipment? If not would insulating the wall be an acceptable solution and/or notice to lock out electrical circuits before entering the narrow access area?

Puzzled in Papau New Guinea.

 

[LEO2854]

See attached photo. These technicians are working between a metal wall and 240 v AC TV and Internet equipment that supply services to a construction camp. The rear access is about 15 inches wide as seen in the photo. The rear wall is all metal. There are no exposed electrical parts. Plugs and receptacles are provided at the rear. The narrow work space is subject to periodic inspection, servicing and troubleshooting or repairs as necessary.

Since there are no live parts normally present does this arrangment meet code requirements with respect to 3 feet mimimum clearance space about electrical equipment? If not would insulating the wall be an acceptable solution and/or notice to lock out electrical circuits before entering the narrow access area?

Puzzled in Papau New Guinea.

On page 70-36 of the 2008 NEC ARTICLE 110.26 AND READ THROUGH PAGE 70-38

 

[kwired]

I don't see the equipment as "likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized" If that type of equipment requires that kind of service it is typically removed and serviced someplace else.

If 110.26 is taken too literally we need to have working clearance around all equipment, I don't think cord and plug connected equipment was intended to be included in 110.26 reqirements.

That said I still think 110.26 is not all that clear on what equipment is intended to be included in the working clearance requirements. If I can crawl to a junction box in a crawlspace take the cover off and check for voltage while lying down in 2 feet of insulation, shouldn't the junction box be required to have working clearance as it is worded?

 

[TVH]

Work Space Around Electrical Equipment

Work Space Around Electrical Equipment

If your insulated then there is no hazard.

 

[kwired]

If your insulated then there is no hazard.

With equipment in this case, it is questionable if 110.26 even applies.

If you have a switchboard or panelboard or other similar equipment then the opposite wall or surface being insulated reduces shock hazards, but if there is an arc flash incident you still have little room for egress. Even with proper PPE it would be natural to try to get away from the flash and having limited space is going to interfere with that and introduce additional hazards.