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MarkDavis

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110.26.(A)(3) states "other equipment that isassociated with the electrical installation and is located above or below the electrical equipment shall bepermitted to extend no more than 6 in. beyond the front of the electrical equipment. Theassociated commentary references electrical equipment above or below anduses an example of a 12x12 wireway and the 2017 edition exhibits aninstallation where the wireway is below a panelboard. Art. 100 definesEquipment: a general term, including fittings, devices, appliances, luminaires,apparatus, machinery, and the like used as a part of, or in connection with,and electrical installation. Do the references contained in the definition ofequipment pertain to only electrical equipment? If the intent is onlyassociated electrical equipment, why would it be any more detrimental to aworker’s safety to have something associated that is non-electrical occupy thesame intrusion into the work space?
 
ShockedMonkey said:
I always pictured a nicked copper waterline spraying a fine mist into 480v switchgear.
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That could happen anyway. They have sprinkler heads in switchgear rooms. I think the intent is you have to draw the line somewhere or it would be a wide open interpretation as to what impedes access to the panel and what doesn't.
 
MarkDavis said:
110.26.(A)(3) states "otherequipment that isassociated with the electrical installation and is located above or below the electricalequipment shall bepermitted to extend no more than 6 in. beyond the front of the electricalequipment. Theassociated commentary references electrical equipment above or below anduses an example of a 12x12 wireway and the 2017 edition exhibits aninstallation where the wireway is below a panelboard. Art. 100 definesEquipment: a general term, including fittings, devices, appliances, luminaires,apparatus, machinery, and the like used as a part of, or in connection with,and electrical installation. Do the references contained in the definition ofequipment pertain to only electrical equipment? If the intent is onlyassociated electrical equipment, why would it be any more detrimental to aworker’s safety to have something associated that is non-electrical occupy thesame intrusion into the work space?
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Foreign systems like plumbing and HVAC, aren't supposed to be in the dedicated space of the equipment anyway.

The 6" extension rule is only for raceways and equipment that is either governed by the NEC, or utility-owned equipment for the electrical service. It also includes the extension of a meter globe beyond the meter enclosure.

For structural features, there shouldn't really be a hazard, but it isn't specifically allowed. One example would be a housekeeping slab that extends a couple inches beyond the equipment footprint. You probably see it all the time anyway, and think nothing of it.
 
GerryB said:
That could happen anyway. They have sprinkler heads in switchgear rooms. I think the intent is you have to draw the line somewhere or it would be a wide open interpretation as to what impedes access to the panel and what doesn't.
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I know, I never cared for that either. Data centers are protected from water with inert gas dump systems, but humans get water sprayed around energized equipment; somehow makes me feel less valuable than data. :)
 
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