Work Space

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Stalosm

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I am trying to locate a control cabinet that has an air conditioning unit mounted on the panel door. The air conditioner housing is plastic and all live parts are accessed from inside the control cabinet. When determining
my workspace in front of the control cabinet, do I measure from the front of the cabinet door or from the front of the air conditioning unit?
 
When the door is open, does the AC interfere with the workspace to inside of cabinet?
You also need to look at clearance from live parts on AC when door is open.

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Stalosm said:
No, it does not. The panel door opens ninety degrees with the AC unit on the outside of the panel door.
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What about live parts of AC on inside of door? Do you have enough workspace when you are working on them?

To perhaps clarify what I mean:
If there were accessible parts needing maintenance access on the inside edge of the door nearest the latch, and with the door open those were 2' from the wall, then I might not consider 36" back from face of closed panel door to be enough workspace. No direct code reference, just seems like it could be a problem.

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Stalosm said:
I am trying to locate a control cabinet that has an air conditioning unit mounted on the panel door. The air conditioner housing is plastic and all live parts are accessed from inside the control cabinet. When determining
my workspace in front of the control cabinet, do I measure from the front of the cabinet door or from the front of the air conditioning unit?
Click to expand...

It appears to me that the A/C is in the working space. this appears to be permitted as long as it intrudes 6" or less.

(1) Depth of Working Space. The depth of the working
space in the direction of live parts shall not be less than that
specified in Table 110.26(A)(1) unless the requirements of
110.26(A)(1)(a), (A)(1)(b), or (A)(1)(c) are met. Distances
shall be measured from the exposed live parts or from the
enclosure or opening if the live parts are enclosed.
Click to expand...

it is clear that the measurement is from the opening.

edited for clarity
 
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I'm just trying to interpret this correctly. NEC Article 110.26(A)(1) states "Distance shall be measured from the exposed live parts or from the enclosure or opening if the live parts are enclosed." With the panel door closed, do I measure from the face of the enclosure or from the face of the AC unit that hangs on the front of the enclosure? There are no live parts exposed when the covers of the AC unit are removed.
 
Stalosm said:
I'm just trying to interpret this correctly. NEC Article 110.26(A)(1) states "Distance shall be measured from the exposed live parts or from the enclosure or opening if the live parts are enclosed." With the panel door closed, do I measure from the face of the enclosure or from the face of the AC unit that hangs on the front of the enclosure? There are no live parts exposed when the covers of the AC unit are removed.
Click to expand...

I don't think the code really envisioned this kind of situation when that provision was written.

I would not get real excited about it one way or the other but I might be inclined to just make sure there was 36" from the AC when the enclosure door is closed.
 
This falls in the same arena as panels with door handles on them, or simply protruding breaker handles. This ends up being AHJ dependent in my experience. I default to whatever sticks out the furthest if I haven't ask the AHJ.
 
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