I am being challenged on the appropriate understanding of NEC 2002 110.26 with regard to a large piece of equipment (industrial machinery).
The equipment is used to process specialty materials. It operates from 3 phase, 208V. It is large and has several locations where AC power distribution and control occurs as well as many controllers, material handling robotics, etc.. Some of the control gear is located behind the panels an enclosures of the equipment. If a control gear component fails, removal and replacement can occur with the whole equipment turned off. However, it is anticipated that troubleshooting may occur while the control gear is live.
A colleague asserts that the control gear of inside of the equipment must be assessed according to the various sections of the NEC such as 110.26, and if the stated clearances are not provided *within* the equipment, we have trouble.
My thought is that since the equipment is "Industrial Machinery" it need only be subject to article 670 of the NEC. That article only speaks to clearance required for 150V line to line or line to ground...not 208-3phase. Since we strive to design the equipment to conform to NFPA79, it seems to me we only need to look in that standard (NFPA 79) for accessibility criteria and do not have to consider the NEC's article 110.26.
The customers of our product, when they install it, will, however, have to ensure that access to our equipment access panels conforms to NEC requirements.
Looking forward to your learned opinions.
Regards,
Jason.
The equipment is used to process specialty materials. It operates from 3 phase, 208V. It is large and has several locations where AC power distribution and control occurs as well as many controllers, material handling robotics, etc.. Some of the control gear is located behind the panels an enclosures of the equipment. If a control gear component fails, removal and replacement can occur with the whole equipment turned off. However, it is anticipated that troubleshooting may occur while the control gear is live.
A colleague asserts that the control gear of inside of the equipment must be assessed according to the various sections of the NEC such as 110.26, and if the stated clearances are not provided *within* the equipment, we have trouble.
My thought is that since the equipment is "Industrial Machinery" it need only be subject to article 670 of the NEC. That article only speaks to clearance required for 150V line to line or line to ground...not 208-3phase. Since we strive to design the equipment to conform to NFPA79, it seems to me we only need to look in that standard (NFPA 79) for accessibility criteria and do not have to consider the NEC's article 110.26.
The customers of our product, when they install it, will, however, have to ensure that access to our equipment access panels conforms to NEC requirements.
Looking forward to your learned opinions.
Regards,
Jason.
