Can a plywood reduce the working space clearance to 36”?

[victor.cherkashi]

Hi forum,

I guess NEC see a plywood as an insulating material.
Once we attach a thin plywood board (1/8” for example) on wall that on opposite side of the panel, the arrangement became condition #1, isn’t it?
Condition #1 requires a working space of 36” for voltages up to 1000 volts.
Do you guys see any code/inspection issue for the solution?

Thank you,

 

[tom baker]

I had a similar issue with a 480 V MCC that required 42 inches to a pipe. I went to Ballard boat Works in Seattle and they made me a red Herculon cover which I put over the pipe and that reduce the clearance to 36 inches.

 

[Johnhall30]

Yes plywood or a layer of sheetrock would suffice