Another working space issue: single direction working space problem

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brycenesbitt

Senior Member
Location
United States
Am I reading this right? There's a 48" hallway and equipment on both sides.

So we have:

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48" of total space.
3.5" of equipment on the left side.
8.09" of equipment on the right side.

Under 110.26(A)(3) "Exception No. 3: Meters that are installed in meter sockets shall be permitted to extend beyond the other equipment. The meter socket shall be required to follow the rules of this section."

Which seems to say that the meter side is fine.
But will the left side equipment clearance be OK, as there is just 33.21 inches of clear space before the electrician's back is up against the meters?
 
kwired said:
I think the exception should only apply to the working space height of the right side. (3) is "height of working space"
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Yeah, it's weird that it's in the height section.
What's intended by that exception?
Is it the intent that you have to meet horizontal working space regardless (has to be 30" wide) but it's OK if there are meters in the way vertically?
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Can the above drawn area receive new equipment, in your code understanding?
 
brycenesbitt said:
Yeah, it's weird that it's in the height section.
What's intended by that exception?
Is it the intent that you have to meet horizontal working space regardless (has to be 30" wide) but it's OK if there are meters in the way vertically?
------

Can the above drawn area receive new equipment, in your code understanding?
Click to expand...
I believe the primary intention of that exception is to allow individual equipment with different depths as long as they are no more than six inches difference in depth for the vertical aspect of the working space. Such items must all be electrical equipment to be allowed in the space.

For example maybe you have a load center that is only ~4 inches deep, beside it you have a fused disconnect 8 inches deep, below you have a motor starter enclosure that is 6 inches deep. You can mount them all on same mounting plane and they comply with the exception. Without the exception you would have to put some sort of spacer behind the shallower enclosures to bring the fronts all to same plane.

In the OP situation however those varying depth items behind you are in compliance of vertical space of what is behind you but at same time they still violate working depth space of what is in front of you.
 
kwired said:
For example maybe you have a load center that is only ~4 inches deep, beside it you have a fused disconnect 8 inches deep, below you have a motor starter enclosure that is 6 inches deep. You can mount them all on same mounting plane and they comply with the exception. Without the exception you would have to put some sort of spacer behind the shallower enclosures to bring the fronts all to same plane.
Click to expand...
On one recent job we had existing equipment at 14" 8" and 6" deep on the wall. And wanted to add a 4" deep new disconnect next to the existing. The AHJ turned it down on working space depth grounds, as all the other equipment was legally non-compliant for depth. Sigh (link to post).
 
brycenesbitt said:
On one recent job we had existing equipment at 14" 8" and 6" deep on the wall. And wanted to add a 4" deep new disconnect next to the existing. The AHJ turned it down on working space depth grounds, as all the other equipment was legally non-compliant for depth. Sigh (link to post).
Click to expand...
Don't you love those situations? Kind of like wanting to beef up an old car but DMV says you need to bring it up to current emissions and safety standards or you won't get it registered for road use.
 
kwired said:
Don't you love those situations? Kind of like wanting to beef up an old car but DMV says you need to bring it up to current emissions and safety standards or you won't get it registered for road use.
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I guess similar, but in the DMV case they might say fixing the car means more miles on the road for the old car.
In the case of the 4" deep box next to the 14" deep box, there's no ongoing harm. Just some sparky's back may rub against the fence.

The solution cost is disproportionate the avoided harm. The stucco contractor did not get the luxury of 36" or working space, ever.
 
brycenesbitt said:
The solution cost is disproportionate the avoided harm. The stucco contractor did not get the luxury of 36" or working space, ever.
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The stucco contractor probably does not jerk back out of the way when investigating issues with his product. Whereas most electricians have moved backwards, and probably learned new words, during routine interaction with their stuff.
 
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