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110.26 (D)

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jwelectric

jwelectric

Senior Member
Location
North Carolina
1- Section/Paragraph
110.26 Spaces About Electrical Equipment.
(D) Illumination. Illumination shall be provided for all working spaces about service equipment, switchboards, panelboards, or motor control centers installed indoors. Additional lighting outlets shall not be required where the work space is illuminated by an adjacent light source or as permitted by 210.70(A)(1), Exception No. 1, for switched receptacles. In electrical equipment rooms, the illumination shall not be controlled by automatic means only.

210.70 (A) (1) Exception No. 1: In other than kitchens and bathrooms, one or more receptacles controlled by a wall switch shall be permitted in lieu of lighting outlets.

2- Proposal Recommends New Text

3- Proposal
110.26 Spaces About Electrical Equipment.
(D) Illumination. Illumination shall be provided for all working spaces about service equipment, switchboards, panelboards, or motor control centers installed indoors. Additional lighting outlets shall not be required where the work space is illuminated by an adjacent light source or as permitted by 210.70(A)(1), Exception No. 1 and 410.30 (C) for cord and plug connected fixtures . In electrical equipment rooms, the illumination shall not be controlled by automatic means only.

4- Statement of Problem and Substantiation for Proposal
NEC Manual of Style states: 2.6 Exceptions. 2.6.1 Placement and Order. Exceptions shall immediately follow the main rule to which they apply. Where exceptions are made to items within a numbered list, the exception shall clearly indicate the items within the list to which it applies.
As written this article could and sometimes is interpreted as not allowing a cord and plug fixture in a warehouse or industrial setting around panels and motor controllers.
The NEC is clear in 410.30 that a fixture can be cord and plug connected. The problem arises when a cord and plug fixture is being switched at a panel in a warehouse or industrial setting. This seems to be noncompliant by 110.26 referring to the exception in 210.70 (A) (1), Exception 1 as this refers to a habitable room in a dwelling unit

edited to show bold in #3 those words to be underlined

[ March 01, 2005, 10:46 PM: Message edited by: jwelectric ]
 
rbalex

rbalex

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Staff member
Location
Mission Viejo, CA
Occupation
Professional Electrical Engineer
Re: 110.26 (D)

JW,

Thanks for taking up the gauntlet. ;)

Some suggestions. First, clarify in the substantiation why the current text can be reasonably interpreted two ways and one is much more restrictive than you believe the CMP intends. Use the Manual of Style reference to help explain why the more restrictive interpretation may be used. Then explain why you believe your text relieves that restriction.

Keep in mind, the reference to 210.70(A)(1)Exception does not prohibit cord connected luminaries at a panel; but it may be interpreted to suggest that cord connected luminaries are not adequate alone to illuminate a workspace. The CMP could simply say the current wording doesn't prohibit cord connected luminaries at panels and not give your Proposal a full review.

Second I'd eliminate the 410.30 references; they are actually irrelevant to the Proposal. The CMP already knows luminaries can be cord connected.
 
rbalex

rbalex

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Mission Viejo, CA
Occupation
Professional Electrical Engineer
Re: 110.26 (D)

You have definitely strengthened the Substantiation.

I can't quite remember the original Proposal, but I think the wording actually was closer to what you wanted to say. The "and" between the "210.70(A)(1), Exception No. 1" clause and the "410.30 (C) for cord and plug connected fixtures" clause in the present wording puts you right back to where we were before - it limits cord and plug fixtures to residential applications.
 
George Stolz

George Stolz

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
Occupation
Service Manager
Re: 110.26 (D)

(D) Illumination. Illumination shall be provided for all working spaces about service equipment, switchboards, panelboards, or motor control centers installed indoors. Additional lighting outlets shall not be required where the work space is illuminated by an adjacent light source or as permitted by 210.70(A)(1), Exception No. 1, for switched receptacles. In electrical equipment rooms, the illumination shall not be controlled by automatic means only.
Click to expand...
Is it just me, or is the entire concept that I bolded kinda unnecessary in the first place? If adjacent lighting light the area sufficiently, then why would "additional lighting" be required? Since the term "illumination" is used, instead of "lighting outlet" as it is used in 210.70, then the cord and plug connected issue is moot. Illumination can occur by any means (IMO).

What about deleting the bolded text altogether?
 
jwelectric

jwelectric

Senior Member
Location
North Carolina
Re: 110.26 (D)

1. Section/Paragraph 110.26 Spaces About Electrical Equipment
(D) Illumination. Illumination shall be provided for all working spaces about service equipment, switchboards, panelboards, or motor control centers installed indoors. Additional lighting outlets shall not be required where the work space is illuminated by an adjacent light source or as permitted by 210.70(A)(1), Exception No. 1, for switched receptacles. In electrical equipment rooms, the illumination shall not be controlled by automatic means only.

210.70 (A) (1) Exception No. 1: In other than kitchens and bathrooms, one or more receptacles controlled by a wall switch shall be permitted in lieu of lighting outlets.

2. Proposal Recommends (check one) new text x revised text deleted text

3. Proposal
110.26 Spaces About Electrical Equipment.
(D) Illumination. Illumination shall be provided for all working spaces about service equipment, switchboards, panelboards, or motor control centers installed indoors. Additional lighting outlets shall not be required where the work space is illuminated by an adjacent light source or in other than kitchens and bathrooms, one or more receptacles controlled by a wall switch shall be permitted in lieu of lighting outlets. In electrical equipment rooms, the illumination shall not be controlled by automatic means only.

4. Statement of Problem and Substantiation for Proposal
NEC Manual of Style states: 2.6 Exceptions. 2.6.1 Placement and Order. Exceptions shall immediately follow the main rule to which they apply. Where exceptions are made to items within a numbered list, the exception shall clearly indicate the items within the list to which it applies.
As written this article could and sometimes is interpreted as not allowing a cord and plug fixture in a warehouse or industrial setting around panels and motor controllers.
The NEC is clear in 410.30 that a fixture can be cord and plug connected. The problem arises when a cord and plug fixture is being switched at a panel in a warehouse or industrial setting. This seems to be noncompliant by 110.26 referring to the exception in 210.70 (A) (1), Exception 1 as this refers to a habitable room in a dwelling unit
 
M

mc5w

Senior Member
Re: 110.26 (D)

An equiment room for panelboards and motor controllers needs a minimum of 1 FIXED lighting outlet. I do not see a problem with additional lighting outlets that are cord and plug connected such as task lights for individual panelboards.

The text does need to be a little clearer that the first lighting outlet needs to be a permantently installed one and that additional lighting can be portable or temporary.
 
George Stolz

George Stolz

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
Occupation
Service Manager
Re: 110.26 (D)

Just noticed this again. Looks good!
icon14.gif
 
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