Situation: I am looking to install a notification control panel in an electric room. I know that my working clearance needs to be a minimum of 30". The only place left in the room is a spot near the door of the room that is about 27" wide. The position of the door will not in any way interfere with this space. My question is: Is the door or can the door be included in my 30" clearance per NEC 110.26(A)(2)? Thanks!!
Working Clearance for Panel
- Thread starter cornbread
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
I am not sure I understand the question. Are you saying that the door and the panel are on the same wall, side by side, with only 27 inches of wall space available for the panel? Are you asking if the required 30 inches of width is allowed to consist of the 27 inches of wall space plus the (let us say) 33 inches occupied by the door, so that you actually have 60 inches of width? I would say that is legal.
jxofaltrds
Inspector Mike®
- Location
- Mike P. Columbus Ohio
- Occupation
- ESI, PI, RBO
Are you asking if the door can 'swing' into the space? I say yes.
Can it 'take up' space? I say no.
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
Well of course not. You can't mount a panel in a door.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
That'a the way I'm reading it.
There are 27 " between the door and wall, that is where I want to mount this panel. If you are facing the panel and door, the door swings away / out. Back to the basic question, do I have my working clearance? I'm inclined to agree with Charlie B that is legal, but I have heard some other opinion in our shop? As always your comments are greatly appreciated.
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Let me put it this way (I first heard this from someone on this forum, but I don't remember who). Can you take the cardboard box that would be used to deliver a refrigerator to your house, bring thta box to the job site, and place it in front of your panel, without the box bumping into any interferences on both sides, or bumping into a low ceiling? If so, you have enough clearance. It seems to me, if I correctly understand your situation, that you could put this hypothetical box up against the front of the panel, and slide it over to the wall on the one side, and it would not be bumping into anything on the other side. So your install would have sufficient clearance.
- Status