Is a light switch "Equipment foreign to the electrical installation" near a panel?

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guyinahouse

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Is a light switch "Equipment foreign to the electrical installation" near a panel?

I'm looking at:

https://www.mikeholt.com/instructor2/img/product/pdf/11NEC101-1076-sample.pdf (which is awesome, BTW).

Figure 110-34 says "raceways and cables" can be located in the dedicated electrical space for a subpanel. But other "equipment foreign to the electrical installation" is known to be prohibited, at least within the dedicated electrical space. Yet Figure 110-32, just above the first figure, suggests a switch is a violation of the NEC because it's a motion sensor, not because it's apparently about 11" from the panel shown. In the case of 110-32, the illustration shows a panel that's wide enough (30") to create its own dedicated working space. Many (probably most) sub-panels are not that wide.

Note the difference, please, between dedicated electrical space and dedicated working space. The former is inside the wall; the latter is for a human standing at the electrical equipment, to service or inspect it.

So is a light switch allowed within the dedicated working space? It hinges on the word "the," really. A light switch would be "equipment foreign to the electrical installation" (i.e., a switch unrelated to the sub-panel, but grounded) as opposed to "equipment foreign to electrical installation" (no "the" here - meaning, typically, a sanitary drain pipe above it).

Switch is okay, or switch is not okay?

Thanks!
 
110.26(E) only applies to specific equipment. I have never seen the rules of this section applied to flush mounted equipment. It is most often applied to surface mounted or free standing equipment.

I would not consider a light switch to be "foreign" to the electrical equipment and would permit it to be installed within the equipment space.

I would also permit the switch to be installed in the working space.
 
The motion sensor in fig. 110-32 has nothing to do with dedicated space, IMO

The figure refers to the section below. IMO a switch, technically) should not be installed in the dedicate space above or below the panelboard etc. (110.26(I))

110.26(D) Illumination. Illumination shall be provided for all
working spaces about service equipment, switchboards,
switchgear, panelboards, or motor control centers installed indoors
and shall not be controlled by automatic means only.
Additional lighting outlets shall not be required where the
work space is illuminated by an adjacent light source or as
permitted by 210.70(A)(1), Exception No. 1, for switched receptacles.
Click to expand...
 
As Don stated the switch may be allowed but as I read the section it does not comply. My understanding is the space is there to allow access for more raceways etc.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
I would not consider a light switch to be "foreign" to the electrical equipment and would permit it to be installed within the equipment space.

I would also permit the switch to be installed in the working space.
Click to expand...

I agree because the term "foreign to the electrical installation" is not defined and the switch allows you to turn on a light to illuminate the equipment within the working space.
 
guyinahouse said:
I'm looking at:

https://www.mikeholt.com/instructor2/img/product/pdf/11NEC101-1076-sample.pdf (which is awesome, BTW).

Figure 110-34 says "raceways and cables" can be located in the dedicated electrical space for a subpanel. But other "equipment foreign to the electrical installation" is known to be prohibited, at least within the dedicated electrical space. Yet Figure 110-32, just above the first figure, suggests a switch is a violation of the NEC because it's a motion sensor, not because it's apparently about 11" from the panel shown. In the case of 110-32, the illustration shows a panel that's wide enough (30") to create its own dedicated working space. Many (probably most) sub-panels are not that wide.

Note the difference, please, between dedicated electrical space and dedicated working space. The former is inside the wall; the latter is for a human standing at the electrical equipment, to service or inspect it.

So is a light switch allowed within the dedicated working space? It hinges on the word "the," really. A light switch would be "equipment foreign to the electrical installation" (i.e., a switch unrelated to the sub-panel, but grounded) as opposed to "equipment foreign to electrical installation" (no "the" here - meaning, typically, a sanitary drain pipe above it).

Switch is okay, or switch is not okay?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Generally, equipment that is "foreign to the electrical installation" refers to equipment that is not governed by the NEC. Think plumbing and HVAC equipment, such as piping and ductwork. One example I wonder about, is if structural members would be permitted in this space.

If it is governed by the NEC, it is part of "the electrical installation", and permitted to be in the dedicated space that extends above and below the footprint of the equipment. Even if its application is not directly related to that specific panelboard or disconnect. Page 21 of your link (PDF page 13) gives an example to explain this, with unrelated conduit running across one of the panelboards. Therefore, I would say that a lightswitch is OK.

In any case, you still need the workspace to be clear. It certainly is not acceptable to block working space, even with other electrical equipment. Such as putting a transformer disconnect immediately behind the transformer (a common violation).
 
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Note that "foreign to the electrical installation" only applies to the 110.26(E) dedicated equipment space and it is the space above and below certain types of electrical equipment. This space is not a likely location for a switch.

That term does not apply to the 110.12(A) work spaces. There would be no question that a switch along side of a surface mount panel that is less than 30" wide would not intrude on the work space, but a switch along side of a flush mount panel that is less than 30" wide would intrude on the required work space. Even though it would be a code violation, I would not cite it.
 
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