Working space violated by wooden enclosure for meter?

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rexowner

rexowner

Senior Member
Location
San Jose, CA
Occupation
Electrician
My question is about the interpretation of the access and working
space required in front of equipment.

This is on a residence, with a 26" wall (outside corner
one one side, window on the other) to put the meter main.

The architect wants to hide the meter by building out
a box with a door on it that (internal dimensions) will
be 20" wide and 18" deep. When the door is opened, the
front of the meter main will be 11" back from the
opening. So the front of the cabinet sits in an
opening that is only 20" wide and 11" deep.

This is OK with the POCO, since it is based
on their reqirements drawing (it is on page 6 of
section 5 of their greenbook):
http://www.pge.com/includes/docs/pd...truction/greenbook/servicerequirements/05.pdf
That drawing pretty much exactly shows what is proposed, except
there will be plenty of height up and down.

I am not so sure about interpreting the NEC requirement.
If I literally read 110.26, I thought working space
starts at the front of the panel, so this 11"D x 20"W area
does not allow working space.

Realistically, though, if working space is for personnel,
I will have no trouble installing or servicing the meter
main in this box, and there will be adequate working
space in front of this wooden box for someone to
stand and work. So, working space would start outside
of the wooden box, rather than
the front edge of the panel.

I have worked on other installations that are similar
but I have always wondered about 110.26.

Does the box violate the working space requirement
or is this fine?
 
Here in NJ the state has taken the opinion that 110.26 (F) (2) modifies the rest of the article when it states "Outdoor electrical equipment shall installed in suitable enclosures". The opinion is that the spacing requirements are measured from the suitable enclosure not into the enclosure. This does make sense when you realize all the traffic lights alone that would be in violation if the spacing required was measured inside the enclosure.
 
rexowner said:
My question is about the interpretation of the access and working
space required in front of equipment.

This is on a residence, with a 26" wall (outside corner
one one side, window on the other) to put the meter main.

The architect wants to hide the meter by building out
a box with a door on it that (internal dimensions) will
be 20" wide and 18" deep. When the door is opened, the
front of the meter main will be 11" back from the
opening. So the front of the cabinet sits in an
opening that is only 20" wide and 11" deep.

This is OK with the POCO, since it is based
on their reqirements drawing (it is on page 6 of
section 5 of their greenbook):
http://www.pge.com/includes/docs/pd...truction/greenbook/servicerequirements/05.pdf
That drawing pretty much exactly shows what is proposed, except
there will be plenty of height up and down.

I am not so sure about interpreting the NEC requirement.
If I literally read 110.26, I thought working space
starts at the front of the panel, so this 11"D x 20"W area
does not allow working space.

Realistically, though, if working space is for personnel,
I will have no trouble installing or servicing the meter
main in this box, and there will be adequate working
space in front of this wooden box for someone to
stand and work. So, working space would start outside
of the wooden box, rather than
the front edge of the panel.

I have worked on other installations that are similar
but I have always wondered about 110.26.

Does the box violate the working space requirement
or is this fine?
Click to expand...
I agree with Jim W, I have seen in the Eagle Golf Course area (and have approved them) an wooden cabinet that inclosed the whole metermain, 400 amp, water pipe, sprinkler clock, and whatever else is in there. With either a pigeon hole, to view the meter, and in some cases where the meter is read, electronically from the office, no hole just two swing out doors. The only possible rejection, could be that the top of the enclosure, doesn't reach 6'6", BUT, it does reach the finished ceiling. Its basically a little shed around the gear that, when the doors are open, you meet the clearance requirements. For what its worth.
 
Thanks for the replies. They clarified the issues for me.
I'll check with the AHJ because it sounds like there
is more than one reasonable interpretation, and this
town has the tendency to err on the side of making
the most strict possible interpretation,
which is why I think it could get flagged as a violation of
110.26.
 
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