Electrical Room Access

[jim dungar]

Not exactly safe if there is an emergency situation for the electrician.

Why? Typically bathroom doors do not need to be unlocked in order to exit.
Put a lever style or panic hardware on the door also.

This is a design issue (personal preference), not an NEC issue if the electrical room/working space can be exited. You may find prohibitions elsewhere like in building or fire codes.

 

[petersonra]

Not exactly safe if there is an emergency situation for the electrician.

What possible emergency would make this unsafe? He can get out of the electrical closet.

I'd be inclined to get some orange cones and open both doors and put up cones so people know not to come in.

 

[Knightryder12]

I have an existing electrical room that has multiple panels and transformers. To access this electrical room currently you have to pass through a storage room that is accessible. They are doing renovations and want to repurpose this storage room into a unisex bathroom. IMO this cannot be done because access to the electrical room access would be limited by the use of the bathroom. What would be the best code reference if this is the case?

Is this the Main Electrical Room? If not, I see no issues. If it is and houses the buildings main, maybe that could be an issue. Not sure, I would have to look at the codes. I would really be checking the Building code.

 

[petersonra]

Is this the Main Electrical Room? If not, I see no issues. If it is and houses the buildings main, maybe that could be an issue. Not sure, I would have to look at the codes. I would really be checking the Building code.

Why is it any worse if you have to access the electrical closet via a bathroom as opposed to a storage room?

 

[Knightryder12]

Why is it any worse if you have to access the electrical closet via a bathroom as opposed to a storage room?

My first thought would be Life safety. If the either room was locked when there was a life safety event that would require shutting down power to the facility. That is why I said it would be worse if that room housed the main.

 

[jim dungar]

My first thought would be Life safety. If the either room was locked when there was a life safety event that would require shutting down power to the facility. That is why I said it would be worse if that room housed the main.

The NEC clearly allows locked doors even on equipment that needs to be readily accessible.

Circuit breaker and disconnects, even main devices, are not generally referred to as Life Safety equipment.

 

[Knightryder12]

The NEC clearly allows locked doors even on equipment that needs to be readily accessible.

Circuit breaker and disconnects, even main devices, are not generally referred to as Life Safety equipment.

I was not referring to the equipment as life safety. I was talking about building life safety. Need to look at all codes and not just the NEC. Like I have said, I do not know off hand if this would be allowed or not, but it does seem like a great design idea.

 

[electrofelon]

"WHY are you in my restroom ?"
"Just checking for shorts,, mam"

"WHY are you in my restroom ?"
"Mam, I am an electrician" (showing electrical license like an FBI agent)

"WHY are you in my restroom ?"
"Someone reported a very old looking woman going into the restroom, just wanted to see if she needed any assistance"

"WHY are you in my restroom ?"
"How dare you make an assumption about my gender, you should be very ashamed"

"WHY are you in my restroom ?"
"Mam, i sit down to pee unlike most men who miss and splash all over the seat"

"WHY are you in my restroom ?"
"Mam you have exceeded your allotted time"

 

[Elect117]

"WHY are you in my restroom ?"
"Mam, I am an electrician" (showing electrical license like an FBI agent)

"WHY are you in my restroom ?"
"Someone reported a very old looking woman going into the restroom, just wanted to see if she needed any assistance"

"WHY are you in my restroom ?"
"How dare you make an assumption about my gender, you should be very ashamed"

"WHY are you in my restroom ?"
"Mam, i sit down to pee unlike most men who miss and splash all over the seat"

"WHY are you in my restroom ?"
"Mam you have exceeded your allotted time"

Plans will call out for frebreze and matches.

 

[Jraef]

#1 question should be “Is this a 1200A system or more?”

If there is anything in that electrical room that is 1200A or more, the EGRESS requirements will stipulate that this cannot be done, it’s in both the NEC and the IBC.

If it’s under 1200A, nobody cares, other that the basic “working space” requirements.

 

[hillbilly1]

I have an existing electrical room that has multiple panels and transformers. To access this electrical room currently you have to pass through a storage room that is accessible. They are doing renovations and want to repurpose this storage room into a unisex bathroom. IMO this cannot be done because access to the electrical room access would be limited by the use of the bathroom. What would be the best code reference if this is the case?

I’ve seen that in LA Fitness clubs, you had to go through the men’s dressing room to get to the electrical room. Kinda caused a problem because one of my electricians was a woman.