clearence in front of panel

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bikeindy

bikeindy

Senior Member
Location
Indianapolis IN
I have a question about clearence on a comercial panel. The panel is 89" H x 40" W 12 " deep. we are to install this panel in a location where the top 12" of the panel will have 3 2 inch water lines running infront of the panel only 9" from the face of the panel. the door will open. is this allowed?
 
bikeindy said:
I have a question about clearence on a comercial panel. The panel is 89" H x 40" W 12 " deep. we are to install this panel in a location where the top 12" of the panel will have 3 2 inch water lines running infront of the panel only 9" from the face of the panel. the door will open. is this allowed?
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No. Take a look at 110.26 (F)(1)(a)
 
acrwc10 said:
No. Take a look at 110.26 (F)(1)(a)
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I am looking at my '99 code book but as I read it the spce for clearence only needs to be 6' in height. this panel is 89" tall and 7" off the floor putting the top at 8' and the pipes are at a hight of 7'. My larger concern is they are water lines but I don't see anythiny that prohibits this. when you look at it I don't like it. I will post pics on Monday.
 
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yes, U own the Width and depth of the top of the can to 6'-0" above the equipment or lower if a ceiling is involved.
110.2(F)(1)(a).

As You said, the 3 pipes are infront of this and I assume above the top of the can. But what about insulation?

Here's how I remeber it:
If you take a simple box and put it on its side and extend the four flaps forward, thats your dedicate electrical space, clearance required in front of the panel (the flaps).

The top of the box X and Y (thats on its side) is always your area as stated above.
 
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I would say that this is not a violation, but perhaps it should be. Perhaps a code revision is needed. As written, the code allows foreign pipes and ducts to be in front of the equipment, so long as a person standing in front of the panel has (I think this is the right number) 78 inches of clear space, measured starting from the floor level. But the code does not address the possibility that the equipment might be more than 78 inches high. The code does not address the possibility that a person might have to stand on a stepping stool, in order to reach something inside the panel. In your example, if a person had to work near the very top, the pipes would make the work difficult, and in my opinion, dangerous.
 
bikeindy said:
I am looking at my '99 code book but as I read it the spce for clearence only needs to be 6' in height. this panel is 89" tall and 7" off the floor putting the top at 8' and the pipes are at a hight of 7'. My larger concern is they are water lines but I don't see anythiny that prohibits this. when you look at it I don't like it. I will post pics on Monday.
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if the panel is 8' AFF and the pipes are 7' AFF then wouldnt' the pipes be inside the 3' clearance infront of the panel? If I'm reading the correctly, the pipes are 9" off the front of the panel and 1' down from top of panel) Sounds like a violation
 
SiddMartin said:
if the panel is 8' AFF and the pipes are 7' AFF then wouldnt' the pipes be inside the 3' clearance infront of the panel? If I'm reading the correctly, the pipes are 9" off the front of the panel and 1' down from top of panel) Sounds like a violation
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This is my interpretation of what is being described too and I agree it would be a violation.

Roger
 
: ) clear thoughts, of clear reading, I won't even talk about understanding ...

Yes its a foul, its in the Zone ... gezz I'll have to stop reading and thinking and instead finish reading completely. UGH ! :roll:
 
SiddMartin said:
if the panel is 8' AFF and the pipes are 7' AFF then wouldnt' the pipes be inside the 3' clearance infront of the panel? If I'm reading the correctly, the pipes are 9" off the front of the panel and 1' down from top of panel) Sounds like a violation
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I agree as well, I read 6'6" and thought it was good, but it does say to the

top of the equipment.
 
acrwc10 said:
No. Take a look at 110.26 (F)(1)(a)
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What I should have said was 110.26 (A)(1)(3).
guess thats what happens when you are about to turn in for the night,but decide to post one more time first. :D --- "Missed it by that much" Maxwell Smart.
 
SiddMartin said:
if the panel is 8' AFF and the pipes are 7' AFF then wouldnt' the pipes be inside the 3' clearance infront of the panel?
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I am going to have to look at the book, when I get to work tomorrow. Much depends on the exact words that are there. At least two separate paragraphs are of interest here. The one that talks about clear space in front of a panel, and the one that talks about head room.

My memory (ALERT - Charlie's Rule violation is impending) is that the rules set up a box that must be clear. The box is at least 30 inches wide, at least 36 inches deep, and 78 inches high. A wider panel makes the box wider, and a higher voltage makes the box deeper. But I don't know if anything makes that box taller.

As I said earlier, it should be a violation, because it can set up a dangerous situation. But I am not certain that the words, as written, cover this particular installation. If they don't, then a code change is in order.
 
OK. Now I have read the words, and the words are very clear. This is a violation. 110.26(A)(3) tells us that the working space must be clear from the floor level to the height required by 110.25(E). The last sentence of 110.26(E) puts this question to bed:
Where the electrical equipment exceeds 2.0 m (6 1/2 ft) in height, the minimum headroom shall not be less than the height of the equipment.
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Thank you Charlie. thats what I was looking for I knew that was the case I just didn't know where it was. My '05 or '08 books are not here. I will have them tonight.
 
Hey just thought I'd share this. It's my job see above the MDP panel.
The black sprinkler pipe is in the zone and will be addressed later!
I raised the panel to up to use the top of the back side of panel for alot of the branch circuit runs!
cellarBA2.jpg

&

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg229/CADPoint/cellarBA1.jpg

Note the organge sprinkler joint, and the the panel label...
 
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