That is a product standard and listing issue, not a NEC issue. The NEC requires me to provide enough space that the door will open 90?. The NEC does not require the manufacturer to design the door so it can open 90?. That is outside the scope of the NEC. I am sure that the product standards and listing agencies have rules that would require the manufacture to design the equipment so the door can open at least 90?, but the NEC does not.
Don,
You are missing my point. The NEC has more than one requirement for the space.
1) Room to open 90. Which per the OP description this panel does not have.
2) Unobstructed working space. Which per the OP this panel does not have.
In the first instance, the OP stated that the door of the panel is capable of opening 90, but that the mounting instructions prevent it from happening. The mounting instructions therefore violate the NEC.
In the second instance, the OP stated that the door obstructs the working space. For that issue it doesn't matter if it opened 180. If it obstructs the space then it's in violation of the NEC.
The installation violates 110.26 on two separate issues. Therefore I would never permit it. Frankly I view the second issue as far more important than the first. I believe the 90 was stated for people who couldn't understand the door had to clear the space. They needed a line in the sand.
If we aren't going to enforce the lead paragraph in 110.26 that occurs before (A):
NFPA70:110.26 said:
Sufficient access and working space shall be provided ...
then there is no point to 110.26 at all.