Polycarbonate windows in panels?

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downey18

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Chicago, IL
Hey NEC gurus,
I was wondering what info there is on polycarbonate windows for use on electrical cabinets. I was looking through the NEC and found the NEMA standards for electrical cabinets under 600V, but I'm curious if there is anything written about polycarbonate windows in electrical panels. We use them to help with the troubleshooting of machines we build ( the less open cabinets, the better), but I don't think anyone ever checked to see if they are "street legal".
So to try and sum up my ramblings, do the polycarbonate windows in the front of some electric panels make a difference as far as safety?
We use 480V tops in our cabinets and I believe 60A would be the highest draw.... we like large motors here.
Any help or direction would be appreciated. And I did search the forum for this info, but had no luck obviously.
Thanks in advance!!!!! :D
 
downey18 said:
Hey NEC gurus,
I was wondering what info there is on polycarbonate windows for use on electrical cabinets. I was looking through the NEC and found the NEMA standards for electrical cabinets under 600V, but I'm curious if there is anything written about polycarbonate windows in electrical panels. We use them to help with the troubleshooting of machines we build ( the less open cabinets, the better), but I don't think anyone ever checked to see if they are "street legal".
So to try and sum up my ramblings, do the polycarbonate windows in the front of some electric panels make a difference as far as safety?
Click to expand...

That would be considered gaurding and reduces the shock hazard but not the arc flash hazard.

downey18 said:
We use 480V tops in our cabinets and I believe 60A would be the highest draw.... we like large motors here. :D
Click to expand...

The "draw" has nothing to do with the hazard levels for arc flash.
 
The primary purpose of the enclosure is to protect against shock hazards. See NFPA79:2007:6.2.2 as a reference. Also UL508, UL 508A, UL50, NEMA 250. Also see NFPA70E:100: Enclosed, Enclosure. Both of which refer to protection against contact with energized parts.

If you are installing polycarbonate windows then you are warranting that they fill the above purposes.
 
pfalcon said:
The primary purpose of the enclosure is to protect against shock hazards. See NFPA79:2007:6.2.2 as a reference. Also UL508, UL 508A, UL50, NEMA 250. Also see NFPA70E:100: Enclosed, Enclosure. Both of which refer to protection against contact with energized parts.

If you are installing polycarbonate windows then you are warranting that they fill the above purposes.
Click to expand...

Or you can buy a Hoffman cabinet with a Hoffman polycarbonate panel and a Hoffman mounting ring and instructions for putting it all together then Hoffman will warrant the assembly per all of those standards.
 
zog said:
The "draw" has nothing to do with the hazard levels for arc flash.
Click to expand...

I was simply describing what type of power we are working with. The "draw" does make a difference in arc flash if I'm working with a panel that is supplied 2A versus one that is supplied 60A.
Regardless, we are not installing the panels ourselves. We are buying them with the windows on them from McMaster Carr but I was asked if these were safe and I was having trouble finding documentation that said yes or no. Thank you to those who pointed me to the relevant info!! :)
 
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