Width of working space

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Mustwin351

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I am wanting to make sure I am understanding article 110 correctly for my situation. In the attached picture I have 3 panel boards with 3 time clocks. Is it permissible to relocate the top right time clock lower and between two panels? Currently it takes a ladder to access it. I wanted to make sure that in relocating it I am not violating article 110. As I read it I do not believe it violates the width of working space requirements. Is there any issue with relocating it between the panels?

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From the picture, it looks like if you lower the time clock between the two panels, there will not be enough room to open the timeclock door to at least 90°.
 
Smart $ said:
From the picture, it looks like if you lower the time clock between the two panels, there will not be enough room to open the timeclock door to at least 90°.
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Good point. Also, I am replacing it with a different model that is slightly narrower in width. I can definitely check that the door can swing 90 degrees before moving it. If the time clock door can swing open 90 degrees I believe I am fine placing it between panels but want to make sure.
 
Mustwin351 said:
Good point. Also, I am replacing it with a different model that is slightly narrower in width. I can definitely check that the door can swing 90 degrees before moving it. If the time clock door can swing open 90 degrees I believe I am fine placing it between panels but want to make sure.
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The NEC does not mention an allowance for equipment that is slightly different in depth to share working space width. Obviously, in practice, you can still work on a piece of equipment that is only recessed by 1 or 2 inches from its neighbors, but the NEC doesn't cover this. One might infer that if a wireway can penetrate equipment's workspace above or below it by up to 6", then anything else covered by the NEC should be able to as well. But that is the top and bottom, and not the sides.

The unambiguous way to do it, is to build out a structure for the shallower piece of equipment, so its cover is at the same position as the covers of its neighboring equipment. Such as a couple of 2x2 lumber to offset it from the wall by 1.5".
 
I am not certain you need to consider the time clock as a piece of equipment that requires its own working clearance. What is inside that little box (or the box the new clock comes in)? Is there anything inside that would require maintenance while it is energized? If not, then it can go between two of the panels and not need to have its front face on the same plane as the panel covers.
 
charlie b said:
I am not certain you need to consider the time clock as a piece of equipment that requires its own working clearance. What is inside that little box (or the box the new clock comes in)? Is there anything inside that would require maintenance while it is energized? If not, then it can go between two of the panels and not need to have its front face on the same plane as the panel covers.
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Its just your standard time switch for lighting. No reason you could not deenergize it to work on it. The front face of the cover would be recessed as compared to the panel panel boards. The door on the time switch I assume would of course need to open at least 90 degrees.
 
Remember, the "Width of Working Space" is vertically measured from the bottom to the top of the equipment and horizontally no less than 30in per NEC 110.26(A)(2). The equipment also does not have to be centered within the 30in horizontal distance.

For example, the "Width of Working Space" for the timeclocks on the left start at the right edge and extend left at least 30in. The timeclocks are permitted to share the "Height of Working Space" of the panelboards as long as they do not extend more than 6in beyond the front of the timeclock enclosure per NEC 110.26(A)(3).
 
Smart $ said:
That is not required. There is no stipulation as to where the 30" begins on the right or left.
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Generally that is correct. But looking at this specific instance, the leftmost timeclocks would be at the rightmost edge of the the 30". And Vice Versa for the timeclock on the right.
 
jeremy.zinkofsky said:
Generally that is correct. But looking at this specific instance, the leftmost timeclocks would be at the rightmost edge of the the 30". And Vice Versa for the timeclock on the right.
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Does this pose any issue with relocating the single time clock on the right lower and between the panels provided it's door opens 90 degrees?
 
Smart $ said:
It doesn't matter because you have panelboards to each side.
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Not sure how the panelboard locations matter here. All that matters is that they do not extend past the front of the timeclocks by 6" or greater. The timeclocks can share the same vertical working clearance and dedicated space as the panelboards.
 
Mustwin351 said:
Does this pose any issue with relocating the single time clock on the right lower and between the panels provided it's door opens 90 degrees?
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You still need to have at least 30" width of working space for the timeclock. You could relocate the timeclock to in between the panelboards, but the front face of the timeclock would need to extend past the front face of the panelboards (less than 6"). As long as the panelboards on either side still maintain their 30" width of working space of course.
 
jeremy.zinkofsky said:
You still need to have at least 30" width of working space for the timeclock. You could relocate the timeclock to in between the panelboards, but the front face of the timeclock would need to extend past the front face of the panelboards (less than 6"). As long as the panelboards on either side still maintain their 30" width of working space of course.
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That's not true. Working spaces can overlap. The time clock does not need it's own personal work space.
 
ActionDave said:
That's not true. Working spaces can overlap. The time clock does not need it's own personal work space.
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guess i'm confused. Where does it say in the NEC that the timeclock does not require its own working space? Additionally, where does it say that the width of working space can be shared?
 
jeremy.zinkofsky said:
guess i'm confused. Where does it say in the NEC that the timeclock does not require its own working space? Additionally, where does it say that the width of working space can be shared?
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First of all the time clock doesn't really need workspace because it's not likely to require examination while energized. Equipment can share spaces because there is nothing that says it can't.
 
ActionDave said:
First of all the time clock doesn't really need workspace because it's not likely to require examination while energized. Equipment can share spaces because there is nothing that says it can't.
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Understood. However, in my experiences, i have never de-energized a timeclock to examine it.
 
ActionDave said:
First of all the time clock doesn't really need workspace because it's not likely to require examination while energized. Equipment can share spaces because there is nothing that says it can't.
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jeremy.zinkofsky said:
Understood. However, in my experiences, i have never de-energized a timeclock to examine it.
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Same here, so I agree. Typical time clocks are of a dead front type assembly. Also, they need adjustment from time to time. The requirement states "likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized".

Working space means essentially no objects foreign to the electrical system. One space cannot violate an adjacent and overlapping space because it is not a foreign object'.
 
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