Definition of Combustible material

[Chuck6965]

Can someone tell me the definition of Combustibles as defined by NFPA 70? I just started as plant manager at this company and they handed me a pre-fire inspection report that failed the 3 feet rule of combustibles near a breaker panel. I ask this because metal shelving is located next to one of our breaker panels and need to know if it needs to be moved. The shelves hold nuts and bolts to anchor machinery and rack down to concrete but the boxes are made of cardboard.

 

[celtic]

...a pre-fire inspection report that failed the 3 feet rule of combustibles near a breaker panel.

The "3-foot rule" does not only include combustibles, but ALL materials.
The clearance requirements are detailed in 110.26.

What sort of voltages are in this area?

 

[Chuck6965]

Thanks Celtic, The voltages are a 480v main disconnect panel a 480 volt breaker panel a 75Kva transformer and 2 120/208 breaker panels. There is only one panel breaking the 3 foot rule and it is one of the 120/208 breaker panels. Tecnically the panel isnt breaking the rule but it is the area in question. To move this shelving unit would be a major undertaking but can be done, just wanted to know what the definition of combustible is because in the wording of the report it says "Storage of combustibles was noted within 3 feet of electrical panels in the electrical room. Electrical rooms should be kept clear of storage and there should be NO combustibles within 3 feet of electrical panels and electrical transformers to reduce the possibility of an electrical fire in the building. (NFPA 70) There is an additional note that says "make sure stored combustibles are not within 3 feet of electrical cabinets. We prefer they be stored in a fire proof cabinet." I was just questioning because of the note added. There are no flammable/explosive items in this room. Just trying to see what the definition of the code says. I do not have a copy of the NEC at this building right now but will have in the near future.

 

[charlie b]

What NEC Article 110.26 says is that a certain area in front of a breaker panel (and other types of electrical enclosures) must remain clear. No storage of any materials, combustible or otherwise, is permitted in that area. The area is defined as the width of the panel (or at least 30 inches wide, if the panel is not 30 inches itself), and either 3 feet deep (for a 120/208 volt panel) or 3.5 feet deep (for a 480 volt panel), and from the floor to 6.5 feet above the floor.

Please note that the area to the side of the panel is not within the space that is required to remain clear. There is no rule in the NEC that says you can't put combustible materials within 3 feet to the side of a panel. However, NEC Article 240.24(D) says that an overcurrent device (such as those within a breaker panel) cannot be located "in the vicinity of easily ignitible material." It does not say what "in the vicinity of" means. It does not say "within 3 feet of" or give any other specific distance. I do not know what the fire codes have to say on this topic. Your report might be based on a fire code, but it is not based on the NEC alone.

Let me add that there is no rule prohibiting the storage of materials in an electric room. The only NEC requirement is that you can't store anything within the required "working space" that I describe above.