Busways and personnel doors revisted

[vango]

NEC 2014 110.26(C)(3) Personnel Doors. Where equipment rated 800 A or more
that contains overcurrent devices, switching devices, or control
devices is installed and there is a personnel door(s) intended
for entrance to and egress from the working space less than
7.6 m (25 ft) from the nearest edge of t he working space, the
door(s) shall open in the direction of egress and be equipped
with listed panic hardware.

scenario: 3000 amp rated vertical busway thru 4 floors. Maximum 600 amp fused disconnect connected to busway on 2nd & each floor up in dedicated electrical rooms. Egress door 12' away with clear path from equipment in each room. Will the egress door be required to meet the 800 amp or more restrictions because we have a 3000 amp busway going thru the room? or should it be interpreted as "600 amp disconnect" being less than the prescribed 800 amps or more? and allowing the egress door to lesser restrictions.

 

[jumper]

My clueless and uninformed opinion: panic hardware required.

The section says equipment 800A and above, your busduct is equipment and is 3000A.

The busduct has OCPDs/switches. The section does not mention the rating of these.

Let's see how far off I am.

 

[vango]

368.2*Definition.

Busway.*A raceway consisting of*a grounded metal enclosure containing factory-mounted, bare or insulated conductors, which are usually copper or aluminum bars, rods, or tubes.

Does the definition "raceway" disqualify the 3000 amp busway and requalify the 600 amp disconnect? Need more information.


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[petersonra]

NEC 2014 110.26(C)(3) Personnel Doors. Where equipment rated 800 A or more
that contains overcurrent devices, switching devices, or control
devices is installed and there is a personnel door(s) intended
for entrance to and egress from the working space less than
7.6 m (25 ft) from the nearest edge of t he working space, the
door(s) shall open in the direction of egress and be equipped
with listed panic hardware.

scenario: 3000 amp rated vertical busway thru 4 floors. Maximum 600 amp fused disconnect connected to busway on 2nd & each floor up in dedicated electrical rooms. Egress door 12' away with clear path from equipment in each room. Will the egress door be required to meet the 800 amp or more restrictions because we have a 3000 amp busway going thru the room? or should it be interpreted as "600 amp disconnect" being less than the prescribed 800 amps or more? and allowing the egress door to lesser restrictions.

is your concern about the "panic" hardware or the the door opening outwardly?

Equipment. A general term, including fittings, devices, appliances,
luminaires, apparatus, machinery, and the like used as a
part of, or in connection with, an electrical installation.

It would appear to me that this installation would trigger the panic hardware and outward opening door requirenments.

It appears to me that two things have to happen for the requirements to be triggered.

1. >=800A rated equipment. It certainly meets that.
2. contains overcurrent devices, switching devices, or control devices. Meets that as well.

 

[vango]

Yes, concern is egress and associated hardware(s) with safety consciousness. NEC minimum standards being the starting point and building up from there while attempting to keep feasible cost controls.
Other SME's have stated the ratings of the disconnect "device" set the standard, in lieu of the raceway. And other SME's agree with your opinion. I can understand both sides albeit my conscience drives me to fast n safe exiting.


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[petersonra]

Yes, concern is egress and associated hardware(s) with safety consciousness. NEC minimum standards being the starting point and building up from there while attempting to keep feasible cost controls.
Other SME's have stated the ratings of the disconnect "device" set the standard, in lieu of the raceway. And other SME's agree with your opinion. I can understand both sides albeit my conscience drives me to fast n safe exiting.


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It seems likely to me that this question has come up before in your jurisdiction. maybe the thing to do is ask the AHJ about it. i am not sure but I think texas has statewide licensing and thus a statewide AHJ so they probably have records of such rulings in the past.