electronben
Member
- Location
- Warwick, RI, USA
Hi there,
First time posting, long time lurker. I recently started a new job a few months ago as the facilites electrician for moderate sized machine shop. Over the past few months, I've been working my way through the plant fixing up any code deficiences or electrical issues I have come across.
My question concerns dedicated space in regards to panelboards in the facility's main conference room.
Sometime in the years before I started working here the company converted several machining areas into one large conference room (~40' x 80')- they left all of the existing panels and enclosures in place, however, with no clear warning designations or dedicated space indication (other than a few old "stay clear 3ft" stickers slapped on the panel covers). All of the electrical equipment in question is located in a corner of the room (mostly 480v) and along the adjacent wall (mostly 120/208V). The 480V equipment is directly in line with the entrance to the room, along the perpendicular wall facing the door. There are no barriers preventing people from coming within acceptable clearance areas in front of the equipment. All of the smaller 120V stuff already violates NEC 110.26(A)(1) because it is enclosed in cabinets which are so close to the front of the panels the doors cannot even be opened more than a 1/4 of the way, and nearly impossible to reach the panel screws to take the cover off (this issue has already been addressed). Corporate will also be having an arc flash study done this year (to comply with new labelling and incident zone requirements).
My question is in regards to the larger-sized equipment located in the room (by larger I mostly mean 480v).
First off, the room is being used as a large conference room, with frequently 100+ people gathering in it. Currently, there is talk from management of converting the room into office space by installing 40 cubicles. I've checked NEC Article 518 [Assembly Occupancies] and NEC 110.26 [Working Clearance] and could not find the answers I was hoping to get.
The question I have is in regard to the following equipment: (1) 120/208Y Panel, (1) 277/480Y Panel, (1) 277/480Y Distribution Panel, (1) 75kVa 480 to 120/208 Floor Mount Transformer. Now, according to NEC 110.26, the equipment has proper working clearances, as far as width, height, and depth goes (the room is pretty much open). The issue I have is with the definition of "dedicated equipment space" and general safety for unqualified people. According to NEC 110.26(F), dedicated equipment space reads as, "All switchboards, panelboards, distribution boards, and motor control centers shall be located in dedicated spaces and protected from damage." - does this mean the company will have to enclose all of the equipment in a dedicated "electric room" with access by qualified personell only by building walls and having a lockable egress? Or will simply cautioning off the area with means such as balusters/tape/chain, etc suffice? As of right now, the equipment is right out in the open in clear view with no precautionary measures. Are any of these required spaces affected by NFPA Arc Flash requirements? I hope I am correct in the assumption that the area in question will have to be walled off from the general populace, as just from looking at it, it seems to be unsafe. I have to back up my claims with concrete evidence to management though, and prove that it is a code/safety violation. I can provide images of the equipment if necessary.
Any help or guidence that you guys could lend me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again!
First time posting, long time lurker. I recently started a new job a few months ago as the facilites electrician for moderate sized machine shop. Over the past few months, I've been working my way through the plant fixing up any code deficiences or electrical issues I have come across.
My question concerns dedicated space in regards to panelboards in the facility's main conference room.
Sometime in the years before I started working here the company converted several machining areas into one large conference room (~40' x 80')- they left all of the existing panels and enclosures in place, however, with no clear warning designations or dedicated space indication (other than a few old "stay clear 3ft" stickers slapped on the panel covers). All of the electrical equipment in question is located in a corner of the room (mostly 480v) and along the adjacent wall (mostly 120/208V). The 480V equipment is directly in line with the entrance to the room, along the perpendicular wall facing the door. There are no barriers preventing people from coming within acceptable clearance areas in front of the equipment. All of the smaller 120V stuff already violates NEC 110.26(A)(1) because it is enclosed in cabinets which are so close to the front of the panels the doors cannot even be opened more than a 1/4 of the way, and nearly impossible to reach the panel screws to take the cover off (this issue has already been addressed). Corporate will also be having an arc flash study done this year (to comply with new labelling and incident zone requirements).
My question is in regards to the larger-sized equipment located in the room (by larger I mostly mean 480v).
First off, the room is being used as a large conference room, with frequently 100+ people gathering in it. Currently, there is talk from management of converting the room into office space by installing 40 cubicles. I've checked NEC Article 518 [Assembly Occupancies] and NEC 110.26 [Working Clearance] and could not find the answers I was hoping to get.
The question I have is in regard to the following equipment: (1) 120/208Y Panel, (1) 277/480Y Panel, (1) 277/480Y Distribution Panel, (1) 75kVa 480 to 120/208 Floor Mount Transformer. Now, according to NEC 110.26, the equipment has proper working clearances, as far as width, height, and depth goes (the room is pretty much open). The issue I have is with the definition of "dedicated equipment space" and general safety for unqualified people. According to NEC 110.26(F), dedicated equipment space reads as, "All switchboards, panelboards, distribution boards, and motor control centers shall be located in dedicated spaces and protected from damage." - does this mean the company will have to enclose all of the equipment in a dedicated "electric room" with access by qualified personell only by building walls and having a lockable egress? Or will simply cautioning off the area with means such as balusters/tape/chain, etc suffice? As of right now, the equipment is right out in the open in clear view with no precautionary measures. Are any of these required spaces affected by NFPA Arc Flash requirements? I hope I am correct in the assumption that the area in question will have to be walled off from the general populace, as just from looking at it, it seems to be unsafe. I have to back up my claims with concrete evidence to management though, and prove that it is a code/safety violation. I can provide images of the equipment if necessary.
Any help or guidence that you guys could lend me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again!