Electrical Equipment Clearance

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curious101

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Atlanta, GA, USA
Thanks in advance for your response!
This is in regards to outdoor installation where meter, CT, and disconnect for service are installed on a wall in front of walkway and parking lot. Some parts of the equipment have the 3' clearance in front of them, but some parts' 3' front clearance conflicts with curb and parking space. In case a car parks too close to the curb, it might cause the violation of 3' front working clearance. Is this up to the AHJ's decision or is this a violation of NEC (either the curb or the parked car)? Thank you!
 
curious101 said:
Thanks in advance for your response!
This is in regards to outdoor installation where meter, CT, and disconnect for service are installed on a wall in front of walkway and parking lot. Some parts of the equipment have the 3' clearance in front of them, but some parts' 3' front clearance conflicts with curb and parking space. In case a car parks too close to the curb, it might cause the violation of 3' front working clearance. Is this up to the AHJ's decision or is this a violation of NEC (either the curb or the parked car)? Thank you!
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IMO, the curb is the only issue. If the curb is outside the working space, no problem. This is similar to a panelboard in a hallway where fork lifts drive by now and then. IMO, the forklift driving by does not violate the requirement to have working space during the time it is there, even if the forklift driver stops to chat with someone in front of the equipment.

OTOH, someone might consider the car parked in front of the equipment as being stored and you can't use that space for storage. But that is a serious stretch of the word storage.
 
Is the equipment actually under the NEC or is it property of the POCO?

Roger
 
curious101 said:
So the curb is an issue. Where in the NEC is this pointed out?
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First answer Roger's question. If the power company (POCO) owns this equipment, then the NEC does not apply, and all discussions of working clearance become mute.

Assuming that the NEC does apply, then 110.26(A)(3) is your answer. It assumes that the "grade, floor, or platform" is level. So if you are facing the equipment, and if you (slowly!) start walking backwards, and if your foot bumps into the curb before you get 3 feet away from the panel, then the installation will have violated this article of the NEC.

 
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