Electrical apparatus equipment in Mech room

[john37]

I had a question I'm hoping someone can help me clarify. I thought electrical apparatus equipment is allowable in a mechanical room even if it is it not serving the mechanical equipment in that specific room. I thought we could put electrical equipment in a mechanical room as long as we met the required frontal and height clearances. We have a 480/277V 3 phase service coming into the building with a 480/277V panel and step down transformer for the 208/120V 3 phase panels. Someone told me that we can only put electrical apparatus equipment in a mechanical room only if it is serving specifically the mechanical equipment? Is that true? Any code references would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[infinity]

I've never heard of such a requirement and I'm unsure if you'll find that in the NEC since I don't believe the requirement exists. Given the fact that there is 480 volt electrical equipment installed everywhere, including above hung ceilings, this information sounds completely false.

 

[iwire]

Someone told me that we can only put electrical apparatus equipment in a mechanical room only if it is serving specifically the mechanical equipment?

That is true in elevator equipment rooms.

It is not true for general mechanical rooms.

 

[john37]

Thank you! I thought I was going crazy. I looked high and low in the NEC for any such requirement that didn't allow us to put the electrical equipment in a mechanical room.

 

[BAHTAH]

Mechanical Rooms

Mechanical Rooms

As mentioned by Bob, elevator rooms are one exception. I have done work in large mechanical rooms where we install switchboards etc and when elevator equipment was also in the space, it was separated by a fense barrier. The way some of the Architects design it is hard enough to find space for the electrical equipment.