Working space

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cppoly

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In EC&M's magazine this month, there's an article "The Case of the Exploding Chain Saw" that talks about an accident with an electrician that was doing work in an electrical closet, which was used for storage. The author says that using an electrical closet for storage is not a code violation but a good practice not to do so as noted in 110.26(B).

But, 110.26(B) says this:

"Working space required by this section shall not be used for storage. When normally enclosed live parts are exposed for inspection or servicing, the working space, if in a passageway or general open space, shall be suitably guarded."

So isn't this a code requirement??

BTW, the article is really sad. It turns out an experienced electrician got an arc blast from a chainsaw used as storage that hit a busbar of 277/480 panel. He lost his short term memory, requires long term rehab, and became divorced...
 
The devil is in the details.

I've seen plenty of 'mechanical rooms' that had cases of light bulbs and furnace filters sandwiched among the equipment they served. IMO, having stuff packed between equipment and in idle corners isn't a real issue.

I don't even mind it if the janitor parks his mop cart there.

I do object when I open the door and find the room packed, floor to ceiling, with everything from Christmas decorations to old office furniture.

Your 'working space' is just that small space in front of the panels - not the entire room. You also need to be able to get in and out ... but that's an even squirmier topic. Would you have adequate access if you had to climb stairs to a mezannine, then down a ladder into the working space?

Don't laugh; I have such a location to deal with.
 
cppoly said:
The author says that using an electrical closet for storage is not a code violation but a good practice not to do so as noted in 110.26(B).

But, 110.26(B) says this:

"Working space required by this section shall not be used for storage. When normally enclosed live parts are exposed for inspection or servicing, the working space, if in a passageway or general open space, shall be suitably guarded."
Click to expand...

You can't store things in the required workspace but if the closet if bigger than the workspace area you can store things in that 'extra' space.
 
iwire said:
You can't store things in the required workspace but if the closet if bigger than the workspace area you can store things in that 'extra' space.
Click to expand...
That's a good way to put it.

(I just disagreed with you on another thread, so I thought it best to try to butter you up on this one. :lol:)
 
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