Bathroom / Electric Room

[iwire]

A coworker ran into a situation today that he had some code questions on.

Industrial/Commercial building that had an electric room in the ladies room or the other way around depending on your point of view.

It became obvious that the bathroom was created after the electric equipment was installed.

The electric equipment was mounted to the outside wall of the building, at some point three walls where added around the equipment and had plumbing installed.

At this point there is a 75 KVA 480/120 transformer about 3 feet from a sink, there are 480/277 and 208/120 panels and disconnects in here also.

We are both aware of 240.24(E) for dwellings, but we where both wondering if there are any articles that are being violated here in this occupancy.

The working space articles are not being violated.

Bob

 

[pierre]

Re: Bathroom / Electric Room

Hello Bob,

You mention electric room, is there service equipment in the room? If there is, 230.70(A)(2)Bathrooms. Service disconnecting means shall not be installed in bathrooms. (2002 NEC)

This is regardless of occupancy.

Hope that is what you wanted to hear,

Pierre

 

[frenchelectrican]

Re: Bathroom / Electric Room

bob there is no way it can meet the code anyway because of pontiel high voltage system (480 V) there and also the transformer can be really annony to hear the transfomer buzzing sound it can really irrated a person in bathroom and really my opion it it not a safe everment for it and i know i see it before and somehow bulding inspecter told the owner to reloacted the bathroom or electcal equipment to other location so that slove the probem there and my moot point is here is safty reason what you describe that really raise red flag pretty fast here

merci marc

 

[charlie]

Re: Bathroom / Electric Room

If the Code is followed, all grounding would be done properly (I am wondering if the installation is home grown with the owner doing most of the electrical work). I am having difficulty seeing where the safety problem is found. The owner has created a poor situation and, as an employee, I would not like it. However, where is the danger?

 

[iwire]

Re: Bathroom / Electric Room

Originally posted by charlie:
However, where is the danger?

Fair enough question, I agree that this is not the most dangerous situation we come across, but most times in commercial type buildings the cleaning crews will use a hose for cleaning, the idea of water and 277 volts to ground worries me.

If this is a non issue what is the reasoning behind 240.24(E) and 230.70(A)(2)

The whole story here is that my coworker was there to do thermal imaging and provide an audit on the electrical installation at this location, we both feel that this is a lousy installation and wanted some code references to put in the report.

While I have your attention Charlie I can not help but notice almost all your posts you use this

or

do you never feel this way

Not being a wise guy but you give the impression of a grumpy guy.

Take care Bob.

 

[charlie]

Re: Bathroom / Electric Room

Thanks for the reply Bob. Actually, I try to do a frown or a questioned look to convey a little dissatisfaction or questioning of the subject matter. I hope I am not a grumpy person.

 

[iwire]

Re: Bathroom / Electric Room

Charlie thank you for your answers, and your smiles.

Bob

 

[rick5280]

Re: Bathroom / Electric Room

One thing no one questioned was this: Is this really a bathroom? NEC define a bathroom as a room with a basin, and one of the following, toilet, shower or bathtub. I doubt if there is any bathing done in this room, so that just leaves the toilet. If there is not a toilet in there also, this, according to code, is not a bathroom, so electrical equipment, overcurrent devices etc.., can be used in this area. Is it a good idea? If there is enough working space, then it should be ok.

If there is a basin and a toilet, then you can not install overcurrent devices in this room, but you could install transformers, if I remember my code correctly.

 

[gwz2]

Re: Bathroom / Electric Room

Is it SAFE ?

Read 90.1(B).