Does Light Fixture Above Panelboard Violate 110.26(F)(1)?

[jbt260]

Is a wall mounted light fixture mounted above a panelboard allowed in the dedicated equipment space? Or would it be considered foreign to the electrical installation?

Thanks,

 

[Dennis Alwon]

110.26(E)(1) states no foreign equipment, etc to a height of 6' or the structural ceiling , whichever is lower. I assume 6' is the lower so if the light is above that you should be okay.

 

[Ragin Cajun]

A light fixture is hardly foreign equipment.

RC

 

[Dennis Alwon]

A light fixture is hardly foreign equipment.

RC

Yeah, I wasn't sure if they meant dedicated to the panelboard installation or not. I believe you are correct.

 

[charlie b]

The intent of that rule is to reserve the space directly above and below the panel for conduit runs to and from the panel. So an argument could be made that the light is not performing that function, and is therefore prohibited. But then, the light is probably served by a conduit from the panel, so perhaps it is OK. For my part, I would allow it. But they, why does it need to be there? Move it 6 inches further from the wall, and it won't be in the dedicated space. Just keep it 6.5 feet above the floor, which a light should be anyway.

 

[infinity]

Here's the code wording. What does equipment foreign to the electrical installation actually mean? A ceiling hung transformer in the dedicated space above a panel is OK if it does not connect to the panel below it?

(a) Dedicated Electrical Space. The space equal to the width and depth of the equipment and extending from the floor to a height of 1.8 m (6 ft) above the equipment or to the structural ceiling, whichever is lower, shall be dedicated to the electrical installation. No piping, ducts, leak protection apparatus, or other equipment foreign to the electrical installation shall be located in this zone.

 

[renosteinke]

A light mounted in a suspended ceiling? No violation.

A surface mounted light? I see it as a violation .... but anyone who would enforce the rule is .... well, words fail me!

Especialy since a light is required .... so maybe that requirement can be construed as making the light part of the installation. Even so, there's that 6" projection issue.

Some say all violations are equal, that the code does not differentiate between violations in terms of gravity. Yet, that logic is silly on the face of it; that's like construing a 'white lie' as being the same gravity of sin as murder. Or, in electrical terms, that using #14 to feed a 100-amp service is no worse a violation as having your GFCI 37" from a sink. I don't buy either of them.