Mcc safety ?

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puckman

Senior Member
Location
ridgewood, n.j.
Would anyone know if a electrical control room with a Mcc , transformers , plc serve as a office for a worker. The workers desk is 3' from two 800 amp mcc panels.
 

charlie b

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Lockport, IL
Occupation
Retired Electrical Engineer
If you meet the rules for maintaining clearance in front of all the panels, then you can indeed put office furniture in the same room.
 

augie47

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Tennessee
Occupation
State Electrical Inspector (Retired)
I can just picture one of the secretaries with whom I work sitting there when a Size 5 starter energizes :grin:
 

TxEngr

Senior Member
Location
North Florida
From a NEC standpoint, it?s pretty much like c.b. said. If you meet the requirements for clearances, then you?ve met the requirements.

From a NFPA70E standpoint, so long as the doors are closed and latched, the equipment is well maintained and only normal operations for which the equipment is designed are being performed, then you?re OK (that?s a lot of ifs). However, once you begin switching operations or exposing energized conductors, then any individuals in the room must meet the requirements of 70E for clearance, PPE, etc.

The main concern is probably your insurer since they often have concerns about having flammable materials stored in MCC rooms outside of metal cabinets. If there is a desk there, then there is most likely some paper material left on the desk creating a fire hazard. For example, FM Mutual has always prohibited having paper catalogs, documentation, etc. left lying around in MCC rooms ? it must be stored in metal cabinets.

Finally, it?s probably not a good practice to have an ?office? in an MCC room. The exception to that would be a work area for electricians who are aware of the hazards and who will maintain a clean workspace.
 
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