Code reference for electrical cabinets on machinery

[joe.mozena]

Greetings
I was wondering if anyone could help me find any code reference to show if a removable safety railing installed in front of an electrical controls cabinet mounted to manufacturing equipment is against code in anyway. The controls cabinet is installed on the production equipment and the railing is a removable yellow safety railing mounted across a few inches away from the cabinet. The controls on the cabinet are accessible. You just can not open the cabinet door without removing the safety railing.

 

[ActionDave]

If it is part of a listed piece of equipment then the NEC would not apply.

110.26 gives work space requirements for electrical equipment but only if it requires maintenance while energized. Since you can access the controls I don't think there is a problem.

 

[retirede]

In the factory I used to work at, it was common to have removable guard rails in front of control cabinets. They were bright safety yellow and were there mostly as a visual deterrent for fork and hand trucks. They also helped physically if they weren’t hit too hard! Seemed effective.

 

[infinity]

It would only be an issue if the code required the contents of the panel to be readily accessible. As you've stated the interior of the control panel is accessible.

 

[petersonra]

It would only be an issue if the code required the contents of the panel to be readily accessible. As you've stated the interior of the control panel is accessible.

Why would it not be readily accessible just because a removable railing was in front of it? It's already got a door in front of it.

 

[infinity]

Why would it not be readily accessible just because a removable railing was in front of it? It's already got a door in front of it.

Removing the railing does not meet the Article 100 definition of readily accessible. It would still meet the definition of accessible.

Accessible, Readily (Readily Accessible). Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without
requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to take actions such as to use tools (other than keys), to climb over or
under, to remove obstacles, or to resort to portable ladders, and so forth.

 

[zbang]

Kinda depends on the details of the railing-
If you can operate the machine without removing the railing, that's one tick as 'accessible'.
If you can simply unlock and move the railing out of the way (no tools required), that's another.

Also consider if this is a safety-required railing and it must be in place while in operation.

 

[retirede]

Removing the railing does not meet the Article 100 definition of readily accessible. It would still meet the definition of accessible.

Our installations had the posts of the railing sitting in female pipe “sockets” poured in the concrete. One person could lift the railing and set it aside. No tools required. No more difficult than opening a door or gate.

 

[infinity]

Our installations had the posts of the railing sitting in female pipe “sockets” poured in the concrete. One person could lift the railing and set it aside. No tools required. No more difficult than opening a door or gate.

The definition says "remove obstacles", whether the railing removal requires tools or not is irrelevant because it's an obstacle.

 

[retirede]

The definition says "remove obstacles", whether the railing removal requires tools or not is irrelevant because it's an obstacle.

Agreed from a code standpoint. (I guess…..this has been debated on here more than once).

From a practical point of view, the railings did not impede necessary access. The panels had no user controls in them. They had door mounted disconnect switches that were operable with the railings in place. The operator station was separate. “Readily accessible“ was not required.

 

[petersonra]

The definition says "remove obstacles", whether the railing removal requires tools or not is irrelevant because it's an obstacle.

A door is an obstacle, yet those are allowed.

 

[infinity]

A door is an obstacle, yet those are allowed.

Yes that's true. It seems like they tried to write a definition that wouldn't make every panel in a locked closet or room a violation. The end result is a broad definition that is pretty lousy.

 

[zbang]

Let's go back to what's probably the intent of "readily accessible"- so someone can get to the panel/device fairly quickly. OTOH, it's acknowledged that a locked door isn't a problem even if it takes half an hour for the right key to show up. It could also be argued that putting some portable barricades (aka "bike rack") around wouldn't be a problem. Why would an easily-removed piece of railing?

 

[infinity]

Let's go back to what's probably the intent of "readily accessible"- so someone can get to the panel/device fairly quickly. OTOH, it's acknowledged that a locked door isn't a problem even if it takes half an hour for the right key to show up. It could also be argued that putting some portable barricades (aka "bike rack") around wouldn't be a problem. Why would an easily-removed piece of railing?

I think many of us are saying the same thing but those are the words they chose to make the definition "to climb over or under, to remove obstacles". A railing in front of the panel is an obstacle so it's cannot be there if it needs to be readily accessible.

 

[zbang]

Please see post #11. I'll also venture that a cage around panels or a switchboard wouldn't be considered a problem either, even if locked. (Are we allowed to lock panel covers? I think so....)

It's easy to argue (and we have) that something quickly and easily moved is not an obstacle ("a thing that blocks one's way or prevents or hinders progress."), and certainly not in the same sense as 5 pallets of concrete blocks.

 

[petersonra]

I think many of us are saying the same thing but those are the words they chose to make the definition "to climb over or under, to remove obstacles". A railing in front of the panel is an obstacle so it's cannot be there if it needs to be readily accessible.

If you are standing in front of the panel are you an obstacle?

 

[infinity]

Please see post #11. I'll also venture that a cage around panels or a switchboard wouldn't be considered a problem either, even if locked. (Are we allowed to lock panel covers? I think so....)

It's easy to argue (and we have) that something quickly and easily moved is not an obstacle ("a thing that blocks one's way or prevents or hinders progress."), and certainly not in the same sense as 5 pallets of concrete blocks.

As I said the defintion is poor but what it says is clear. A removal railing in front of the panel is an obstacle. Even something on wheels in front of the panel is an obstacle.

Accessible, Readily (Readily Accessible). Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without
requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to take actions such as to use tools (other than keys), to climb over or
under, to remove obstacles, or to resort to portable ladders, and so forth.

 

[petersonra]

So an easily removable railing is an obstacle, but a gate on hinges with a padlock is not.