Working space
- Thread starter chrisg
- Start date
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jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Working space
They can over lap.You should at least have the space in front of each panel at same level but NEC doesn't even say that
They can over lap.You should at least have the space in front of each panel at same level but NEC doesn't even say that
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Re: Working space
Chris,
If by "on the same plane", you mean the depth of the other equipment, then there is a violation. There is no provision in the code to permit associated electrical equipment to be in the required 30" wide work space, unless it is directly above or below the equipment requiring the work space. Equipment directly above or below is permitted to extend 6" out into the work space.
Don
Chris,
If by "on the same plane", you mean the depth of the other equipment, then there is a violation. There is no provision in the code to permit associated electrical equipment to be in the required 30" wide work space, unless it is directly above or below the equipment requiring the work space. Equipment directly above or below is permitted to extend 6" out into the work space.
Don
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Re: Working space
I?m not sure I understand the question. I wish I could post a sketch, but I?ll try a description.
Suppose that five enclosures (housing 102/208V components) are mounted side-by-side against the same wall. Looking down from above, you see that the backs of all five enclosures are in the same plane, as they are mounted on the same wall.
Now suppose that the first, third, and fifth enclosures are 24 inches deep. The second and fourth are 36 inches deep. So the front surfaces of all five are not in the same plane.
Finally, suppose that the available working clearance in front of the enclosures is 3 feet from the deeper enclosures, and therefore four feet in front of the shallower enclosures. I think that this example would represent the configuration described in the original question.
Here is my answer, in 2 parts:
</font>
I?m not sure I understand the question. I wish I could post a sketch, but I?ll try a description.
Suppose that five enclosures (housing 102/208V components) are mounted side-by-side against the same wall. Looking down from above, you see that the backs of all five enclosures are in the same plane, as they are mounted on the same wall.
Now suppose that the first, third, and fifth enclosures are 24 inches deep. The second and fourth are 36 inches deep. So the front surfaces of all five are not in the same plane.
Finally, suppose that the available working clearance in front of the enclosures is 3 feet from the deeper enclosures, and therefore four feet in front of the shallower enclosures. I think that this example would represent the configuration described in the original question.
Here is my answer, in 2 parts:
</font>
- <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If all the enclosures are all at least 30 inches wide, this is compliant.</font>
- <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If either of the shallower enclosures (number 2 or 4) is less wide than 30 inches, then you have a violation. That is because you need at least 30 inches of clear space, side-to-side, starting at the front edge of each enclosure, and because the deeper enclosure infringe on this space.</font>
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
Re: Working space
Very good description charlie, reminds me of pictionary.
Very good description charlie, reminds me of pictionary.
Re: Working space
Thank you all for the replies, I still have one question concerning the 30" working space. The side to side measurement, is that from both sides of the equipment? Say there is a 12" wide enclosure with a depth of 6". To its right (three inches)is a 30" wide enclosure with a depth of 20". To its left, four inches away is a 20" wide enclosure, 7" deep.
Where do you measure the 30" from for the 12" enclosure? Can you measure from the right side of the enclosure to the left, so that the deep 30" does not infringe in the work space of the 12" enclosure? Or does the deep enclosure to the right of the 12" enclosure still violate the working space?
Thank you all for the replies, I still have one question concerning the 30" working space. The side to side measurement, is that from both sides of the equipment? Say there is a 12" wide enclosure with a depth of 6". To its right (three inches)is a 30" wide enclosure with a depth of 20". To its left, four inches away is a 20" wide enclosure, 7" deep.
Where do you measure the 30" from for the 12" enclosure? Can you measure from the right side of the enclosure to the left, so that the deep 30" does not infringe in the work space of the 12" enclosure? Or does the deep enclosure to the right of the 12" enclosure still violate the working space?
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Working space
you need 30 inches in front of you it can start at either side or be centered but nothing can be in that zone .so if in that 30 inches you have another panel that is deeper then you have violation.
thats just my interpretation
you need 30 inches in front of you it can start at either side or be centered but nothing can be in that zone .so if in that 30 inches you have another panel that is deeper then you have violation.
thats just my interpretation
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- Semi-retired engineer
Re: Working space
I tend to agree that the situation you describe is a technical violation of the rules. OTOH, its pretty common to install boxes of varying depths adjacent to each other on a wall. A few inches one way or the other does not really detract significantly from the working space requirements, however if you had a short and not very wide box between two deeper boxes it would be a worse situation.
I tend to agree that the situation you describe is a technical violation of the rules. OTOH, its pretty common to install boxes of varying depths adjacent to each other on a wall. A few inches one way or the other does not really detract significantly from the working space requirements, however if you had a short and not very wide box between two deeper boxes it would be a worse situation.
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