Push bar doors on service over 1200A

[innersurffer]

An inspector is interpreting the 2002 NEC relating to service over 1200 amps and the " equipment " being over 6ft. as being even applicable for 2 MDP's ( one is 800 amps and one is 600 amps) next to each other and taking up 6 ft.He is saying because it is over 1200 amps (1300)and the 2 pieces of equipment are over 6 ft. (both are 3 ft wide with a 1 ft space between them) then their must be push type open doors in this particular electric room. Looking in the NEC Workbook the pictures only detail one piece of equipment . The inspector is interpreting the word " equipment " to mean multiple equipment (s)? :roll: Can anyone give me some insight into the correct interpretation of this code and if I am correct in my interpretation of this only applying to 1 piece of equipment, how to enlighten the inspector and possibly avoid costly crash doors?

 

[roger]

Re: Push bar doors on service over 1200A

Well, I personally like the interpretation, but it is not correct, The first sentence of 110.26(C)(2) says "For equipment rated 1200 amperes or more", it does not say; "For equipment that the sum of the individual ratings equal or exceed 1200 amperes".

I like the interpretation because a fire or bolted fault in gear much smaller can trap, mame, or kill us as easy as a 1200 amp or larger rated gear.

Roger

[ October 21, 2004, 09:02 PM: Message edited by: roger ]

 

[tom baker]

Re: Push bar doors on service over 1200A

And a change for the 2005 code will remove the equipment size. Its the fault current that gets you, not the gear size.

 

[steve66]

Re: Push bar doors on service over 1200A

Tom:

Will the 6 feet then include 2 switchboards that are each 4' wide?

Steve

 

[charlie b]

Re: Push bar doors on service over 1200A

In my view, it has to comprise a single item of equipment. If you have one 1200 amp, 4 foot wide board installed right next to another (i.e., left side wall of the one in contact with the right side wall of the other), but if the bus bars of the one are not electrically connected to the bus bars of the other (e.g., with bus tie cables that pass through the walls), then you do not have a 6 foot wide compenent, and the rule you describe does not apply. I gather from Tom's post that this will no longer matter, once the 2005 goes into effect.