NEC 110.26(C)(2)

[Swampyankee]

2020 NEC Art. 110.26(C)(2)

In the 2020 NEC a sentence was added which states "Open equipment doors shall not impede the entry to or egress from the working space".

Regarding an installation of two 480vac switchgear lineups, or MCC's, installed facing each other and provided with the required 48 inch working space depth between them per Table 110.26(A)(1), Condition 3. If an additional 24 inches of depth is including (72 inches total) to allow for entrance to and egress from the working space with one or more equipment doors on one lineup open, I believe that that this would meet the requirement presented in the sentence that was added, however, it is unclear as to what would be required if one or more equipment doors on each lineup were to be open at the same time. Is there some clarification that can be provided as to what is actually required in this circumstance?

 

[Jraef]

I think you may be over interpreting "impeding"; it's just getting in the way. Think about the intent here, they don't want a situation where an open door of a piece of equipment in getting in the way of someone heading to the exit in an emergency. If your door is 36" wide and centered on the wall perpendicular to the two gear lineups, and the equipment nearest the door has 36" wide doors, then to avoid having open doors impede the exit path, you would need 36 + 36 + 36, so 108". If your equipment doors are smaller, like on an MCC section, you need less.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I agree with Jeff, except for the egress path only needs to be 24", in his example you would need 96" between the enclosures with 3' doors.