NEC 110-26-C entrances to service rooms.

[dejeud]

110-26-C requires that any room with electric equipment over 1200A to have 2 entrances at each end of the working space.
Exception #2 states that where the working space is doubled, only one entrance is required. The dilema I have is with the following statement:

"It shall be located so the edge of the entrance nearest the equipment is the minimum clear distance given in table 110-26(a)AWAY from such equipment"

The question is:
1: Is the entrance supossed to be at LEAST 3' away from the equipment?
or
2: Is the entrance supossed to be NOT FURTHER than 3' from the equipment?

 

[haskindm]

Re: NEC 110-26-C entrances to service rooms.

#1 is correct. We need to make sure that there is sufficient space from the equipment so that you can exit even if there is an arcing fault.

 

[charlie b]

Re: NEC 110-26-C entrances to service rooms.

I agree. But to be clear, suppose the only door to the room is at the side of the equipment, and the access to the live parts is in front. Suppose you are talking about a 120/208 volt system rated at 1200 amps. What is needed is a minimum of 6 feet of clear working space in front, and a minimum of 3 feet of clearance between the side of the equipment and the doorway.

If the configuration of the room does not give you both of these conditions, then two things must happen: (1) You must have a minimum of 3 feet of clear working space in front, and (2) You must have two entrances.