Access to Working Space

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Pierre C Belarge

Pierre C Belarge

Senior Member
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Westchester County, New York
I came across this install today.


Yeah or neah...is this proper access to the working space? There is approximately 36 inches width and 40 inches depth in front of the panel and to the opening between the shelving as seen in the picture.

Access-workngspace2.jpg




Access-workngspace.jpg
 
Jeez.. look at all that wasted space! I usually see these with the shelves shoved in, with just enough space to open the door to reset breakers....:roll:
 
OK, 110.26(A) and (B) seem to be met, but 110.26(C)(1) is not.

"At least one entrance of sufficient space shall be provided to give access to and egress from working space about electrical equipment"

edit to add - IMO, that is not "sufficient" space.
 
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brian john said:
Getting in is not a problem, getting out is an issue in an emergency situation
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That is exactly how I feel.

The other thread I started tonight is the same job as this...there are other violations with this job.

Before I pile on the violations tomorrow with this contractor, I was curious what others had to think of this particular situation.


P.S. I had to turn sideways to slide by the opening here. I am not a big person.
I am wondering if I can consider this the "entrance" to the working space???
 
If you need to get out, that means you got in.

If you can't get in, you won't need to get out.

"Sufficient area" is a highly subjective term.

What if this were in a manhole and the ladder up and out was along one of the long dimensions? A manhole is, what, somewhat under 5 square feet. How does that compare to "sufficient area"?

Where's the citation for how many inches wide, or how many square feet are required for a minimum "sufficient area"?
 
Al
There are specific dimensions for the entrance to the work space. The opening in the picture does not meet the minimum width required. Just because I was able to squeeze in does not make it correct. The opening is approximately 14 inches wide, maybe a little less.
 
Pierre C Belarge said:
Al
There are specific dimensions for the entrance to the work space. The opening in the picture does not meet the minimum width required. Just because I was able to squeeze in does not make it correct. The opening is approximately 14 inches wide, maybe a little less.
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I am done stick a fork in me What do you think I am a mouse if I get my head in the whole body can squeeze through?
 
Just a thought... What is the box above the panel? Is that a sub-panel that also needs to be accessible? It looks to me like there isn't enough room to get a ladder in there which seems needed for that box.
 
al hildenbrand said:
If you need to get out, that means you got in.

If you can't get in, you won't need to get out.

"Sufficient area" is a highly subjective term.

What if this were in a manhole and the ladder up and out was along one of the long dimensions? A manhole is, what, somewhat under 5 square feet. How does that compare to "sufficient area"?

Where's the citation for how many inches wide, or how many square feet are required for a minimum "sufficient area"?
Click to expand...


I agree with Al's point above.

For this size equipment nothing in the NEC requires entering or exiting the work space must be easy, only that it's possible.

The work space is there where it is required.
 
Pierre C Belarge said:
Al
There are specific dimensions for the entrance to the work space.
Click to expand...

Not for equipment of this size.

The opening in the picture does not meet the minimum width required.
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The equipment is less then 1,200 amps, 'sufficient' is all thats required.

Main Entry: suf?fi?cient

Pronunciation: \sə-ˈfi-shənt\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin sufficient-, sufficiens, from present participle of sufficere

Date: 14th century

1 a: enough to meet the needs of a situation or a proposed end <sufficient provisions for a month> b: being a sufficient condition

2archaic : qualified, competent
— suf?fi?cient?ly adverb
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In this case the needs of a situation are entrance and exiting the required work space. The fact you got into the working space proved the opening was sufficient.

Just because I was able to squeeze in does not make it correct.
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And just because you had to squeeze in does not make it a red tag. :smile:


The opening is approximately 14 inches wide, maybe a little less.
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Yeah I would be squeezing in as well. :D
 
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