I have looked through the 2005 NEC and can not find a definitive answear as to how close a sink, sump pit etc. can be to a panel board, as long as all the other requirements are met. I was always under the impression of 3 ft to sides and in front.
OK, Mike, I'll bite. What is your reasoning? Are you suggesting that the "likely to require" part won't come into play? Or are you saying that the NEC as an entity does not apply to homeowners? Or is there some other basis?
I'm like you Charlie, I don't see a dwelling unit being exempt. I'm from the 'show me state' (Missouri) so show me.
Hint. OSHA.
PS I'm the EC you are the EI YOU have to show me!
How does OSHA make an adopted NEC mute? Though I will say that if a sump is not above the floor, it is not in the required working space.
There is never a time that you 'have to' work on anything live in a residential application.
Oh yes there is.
You must assume the item is live until you have verified it is not. In your example, using a voltmeter to determine if the utility has disconnected power to the panel, would require 'clear working space'.
Not true as OSHA always permits troubleshooting live circuits. Even if OSHA did prohibit all energized troubleshooting and work, that would not make it any less likely that such work would be done. The rule applies if such work is likely. I submit that live work is likely at every electrical installation no matter if there are rules in other documents that prohibit live work.OSHA prohibits 'live' work in a residential application!
There is never a time that you 'have to' work on anything live in a residential application.
By using a portable generator.Yes and no. How you going to do a live-dead-live test?
Not true as OSHA always permits troubleshooting live circuits. Even if OSHA did prohibit all energized troubleshooting and work, that would not make it any less likely that such work would be done. The rule applies if such work is likely. I submit that live work is likely at every electrical installation no matter if there are rules in other documents that prohibit live work.
By using a portable generator.
Mike OSHA does not cover one man shops or home owners who do their own work.
OSHA only covers shops that employee two or more workers.
The NEC covers all installations.
1910.333(a)(1)"Deenergized parts." Live parts to which an employee may be exposed shall be deenergized before the employee works on or near them, unless the employer can demonstrate that deenergizing introduces additional or increased hazards or is infeasible due to equipment design or operational limitations. Live parts that operate at less than 50 volts to ground need not be deenergized if there will be no increased exposure to electrical burns or to explosion due to electric arcs.
Note 1: Examples of increased or additional hazards include interruption of life support equipment, deactivation of emergency alarm systems, shutdown of hazardous location ventilation equipment, or removal of illumination for an area.
Note 2: Examples of work that may be performed on or near energized circuit parts because of infeasibility due to equipment design or operational limitations include testing of electric circuits that can only be performed with the circuit energized and work on circuits that form an integral part of a continuous industrial process in a chemical plant that would otherwise need to be completely shut down in order to permit work on one circuit or piece of equipment.
Note 3: Work on or near deenergized parts is covered by paragraph (b) of this section.
What work in a residential setting requires live work?
What de-energized tests will you perform to identify a suspected voltage drop issue on a branch circuit? How about a lost 'utility neutral'