Electrical Rooms in Warehouses

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PE (always learning)

PE (always learning)

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Saint Louis
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Professional Engineer
I have a project that is a warehouse / commercial garage with cars moving back and forth inside of it. The architect did not provide us with an electrical room and I asked for one today at a project meeting. They told me that they can provide an electrical room but it will add cost to the project and they don't want to add one unless they absolutely have to. The electrical room would house the main switchboard for the building. Am I required to put my main switchboard in an electrical room or can I put it along the wall somewhere in the facility with protective bollards in front of it? Obviously I want to keep the main gear close to wherever the utility transformer is, but again, just want to know if the room is a code requirement.

Best Regards
 
I know of no requirement for you to have an "electrical room".
If it's a "repair garage" that might have some bearing on gear placement.
 
I might ask for the area to be fenced off to prevent unauthorized access, especially if there are random people wandering around in this garage/warehouse.
 
I believe NEC 110.26 A,4 "Limited Access" and 110.26 E "Dedicated Equipment Space" requires us to have at a minimum a chain link fence around the gear to prevent unauthorized personnel access to the dedicated equipment space. If this equipment has adjustable trip breakers that can be also an issue if the trip adjustments are not covered and lockable which not all manufacturers can provide. If the space is not double the required working space or 2 times 4 foot = 8 feet in depth you would need more than one way out.
 
I’ve seen a lot of big gear out in the open with nothing but bollards, and maybe a guard rail to keep the forklift monkeys from hitting it. On Lowe’s older stores, the gear is located on a wall open to the public with nothing more than a chain across the area. They do have lockable doors over the panels though.
 
engineerintraining12 said:
I believe NEC 110.26 A,4 "Limited Access" and 110.26 E "Dedicated Equipment Space" requires us to have at a minimum a chain link fence around the gear to prevent unauthorized personnel access to the dedicated equipment space. If this equipment has adjustable trip breakers that can be also an issue if the trip adjustments are not covered and lockable which not all manufacturers can provide. If the space is not double the required working space or 2 times 4 foot = 8 feet in depth you would need more than one way out.
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I don't see how this is a limited access situation so I don't think 110.26.A.4 is relevant.

110.26.E just requires dedicated space, but says nothing about requiring access limits.

I would be inclined to fence it off just to keep people out that don't belong there, but I don't see it as being required.
 
Because of clearance requirements the area in front of panels is kept clear by electricians so it can be used for storage by others.
A chain link fence is simple, keeps the area secure. An electrical room does both and keeps the gear clean.
 
A separate room is highly preferred but not required the NEC. Only a dedicated space is required. I've went down this rabbit hole many times and the answer is always the same. As always, the NEC is NOT a design guide.
 
tom baker said:
Because of clearance requirements the area in front of panels is kept clear by electricians so it can be used for storage by others.
A chain link fence is simple, keeps the area secure. An electrical room does both and keeps the gear clean.
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Opps! Maybe you meant "cannot be used for storage"? Working spaces in front of panels are required to be clear on any obstructions.
 
WhereI worked we had an electrical room ,it was used for storage, as the manager was an electrician and he knew exactly the clearances required. I sent a copy of a mike holt graphic on 110.26 to our safety director, the room was cleared out the next day
 
Been in many places the view is "That's a lot of wasted space, we'll use it anyway," even though hab Ballard's and rail. Took me 20 minutes just to move the junk they put into the "dedicated space" so I could work on the panel and shut down a circuit.
 
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