Reasonable Egress Path

[Brig5150]

I am currently installing a dual fed 5000a 480v service to replace an existing in a hospital facility. The inspector has questioned the egress path due to a ships ladder use in said path. The gear is located in the basment on a raised level that is specifically setup for electrical equipment in a fairly wide open arrangement. I believe the path is acceptable per code sec. 110.33 (B) but would like other thoughts.Is there anyway I can attach a drwing?

 

[charlie b]

If you were to draw lines on the floor to depict the required working clearances around all the equipment in the area, would there be space on this level that is not within the lines? In other words, can you be standing within the working space in front of any of the equipment, and walk out of the working space, and still be on the same floor level? If so, the manner of egress from that point to the outside world is not within the scope of the NEC. All the NEC cares about is that you can safely leave the designated working space.

 

[Brig5150]

Yes you could easily exit working space. The inspectors words are that if he were to be exposed to a flash he would not want to have negotiate the ladder under those conditions. But I believe that it meets all criteria of an egress path. Is there any reference to what you stated of egress area?

 

[charlie b]

The inspectors words are that if he were to be exposed to a flash he would not want to have negotiate the ladder under those conditions.

Then tell him to walk away from the gear, outside the working area, and sit down until help arrives. The NEC does not require you to be able to walk under your own power to the nearest hospital. Once you are no longer standing in front of the equipment, the NEC ceases to care about you.

But I believe that it meets all criteria of an egress path.

What criteria would that be? The NEC has rules about egress lighting, so if someone (i.e., some other code) tells you about the number and nature of egress paths that the building must have, we will know how to put up lights. But it is not the NEC that establishes the rules for the path itself.