Replies

1. 
   renosteinke | Dec 08, 2007 08:39pm | #1

   You need a space either 30" wide, or the width of the panel cover, whichever is greater. The 30" need not be centered on the panel ... all the 'extra' space can be to one side.

   You need to be able to open the door of the panel all the way.

   The space needs to be 36" deep, in front of the panel.

   The 'clear' space extends from the floor to 77" above the floor. No pipes, ducts, chandeliers, shelves, washing machines, etc. in this area. Pipes run within the wall itself are OK.

   Then some 'common sense' applies. Closets and cabinets are, almost by definition, ruled out as panel locations. Hallways and stair landings are OK, but over the stairs themselves is not. Behind a door is OK (maybe not smart, but allowed). Painting, wall papering, and other camouflage for the door is OK. You need light in the area.

   These rules were not always as they are, and are often violated.

2. 
   BillHartmann | Dec 08, 2007 09:49pm | #2

   Here is snippets from the code.

   '110.26 Spaces About Electrical Equipment

   Sufficient access and working space shall be provided and maintained about all electric equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment. Enclosures housing electrical apparatus that are controlled by a lock(s) shall be considered accessible to qualified persons.

   (A) Working Space Working space for equipment operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized shall comply with the dimensions of 110.26(A)(1), (A)(2), and (A)(3) or as required or permitted elsewhere in this Code.

   (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.

   [ Where the Voltage is less than 150 volt to GROUND - normal 120/240 service the clearance is 3 ft]

   (2) Width of Working Space The width of the working space in front of the electric equipment shall be the width of the equipment or 750 mm (30 in.), whichever is greater. In all cases, the work space shall permit at least a 90 degree opening of equipment doors or hinged panels.

   (3) Height of Working Space The work space shall be clear and extend from the grade, floor, or platform to the height required by 110.26(E). Within the height requirements of this section, other equipment that is associated with the electrical installation and is located above or below the electrical equipment shall be permitted to extend not more than 150 mm (6 in.) beyond the front of the electrical equipment.

   (B) Clear Spaces 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.

   ...

   (D) Illumination Illumination shall be provided for all working spaces about service equipment, switchboards, panelboards, or motor control centers installed indoors. Additional lighting outlets shall not be required where the work space is illuminated by an adjacent light source or as permitted by 210.70(A)(1), Exception No. 1, for switched receptacles. In electrical equipment rooms, the illumination shall not be controlled by automatic means only.

   (E) Headroom The minimum headroom of working spaces about service equipment, switchboards, panelboards, or motor control centers shall be 2.0 m (6 1/ 2 ft). Where the electrical equipment exceeds 2.0 m (6 1/ 2 ft) in height, the minimum headroom shall not be less than the height of the equipment.
   Exception: In existing dwelling units, service equipment or panelboards that do not exceed 200 amperes shall be permitted in spaces where the headroom is less than 2.0 m (6 1/ 2 ft).

   (F) Dedicated Equipment Space All switchboards, panelboards, distribution boards, and motor control centers shall be located in dedicated spaces and protected from damage.
   Exception: Control equipment that by its very nature or because of other rules of the Code must be adjacent to or within sight of its operating machinery shall be permitted in those locations.
   (1) Indoor Indoor installations shall comply with 110.26(F)(1)(a) through (F)(1)(d).
   (a) Dedicated Electrical Space. The space equal to the width and depth of the equipment and extending from the floor to a height of 1.8 m (6 ft) above the equipment or to the structural ceiling, whichever is lower, shall be dedicated to the electrical installation. No piping, ducts, leak protection apparatus, or other equipment foreign to the electrical installation shall be located in this zone.
   Exception: Suspended ceilings with removable panels shall be permitted within the 1.8-m (6-ft) zone.
   (b) Foreign Systems. The area above the dedicated space required by 110.26(F)(1)(a) shall be permitted to contain foreign systems, provided protection is installed to avoid damage to the electrical equipment from condensation, leaks, or breaks in such foreign
   systems.
   (c) Sprinkler Protection. Sprinkler protection shall be permitted for the dedicated space where the piping complies with this section.
   (d) Suspended Ceilings. A dropped, suspended, or similar ceiling that does not add strength to the building structure shall not be considered a structural ceiling."

   While not code the Handbook as explanitory information and perty pictures.

   This is from the handbook.

   "Regardless of the width of the electrical equipment, the working space cannot be less than 30 in. wide. This space allows an individual to have at least shoulder-width space in front of the equipment. The 30 in. measurement can be made from either the left or
   the right edge of the equipment and can overlap other electrical equipment, provided the other equipment does not extend beyond the clearance required by Table 110.26(A)(1). If the equipment is wider than 30 in., the left-to-right space must be equal to the width of the equipment. See Exhibit 110.12 for an explanation of the 30 in.
   width requirement."

   "In addition to requiring a working space to be clear from the floor to a height of 61/2 ft or to the height of the equipment, whichever is greater, 110.26(A)(3) permits electrical equipment located above or below other electrical equipment to extend into the working space not more than 6 in. This requirement allows the placement of a 12 in. Î 12 in. wireway on the wall directly above or below a 6 in. deep panelboard without impinging on the working space or compromising practical working clearances. The requirement continues to prohibit large differences in depth of equipment below or above other equipment that specifically requires working space. In order to minimize the amount of space required for electrical equipment, it was not uncommon to find installations of large free-standing, dry-type transformers within the required work space for a all-mounted panelboard. Clear access to the panelboard is compromised
   by the location of the transformer with its grounded enclosure andhis type of installation and is clearly not permitted by this section. Electrical equipment that produces heat or that otherwise requires ventilation also must comply with 110.3(B) and 110.13."

   "Section 110.26(B), as well as the rest of 110.26, does not prohibit the placement of panelboards in corridors or passageways. For that reason, when the covers of corridor- mounted panelboards are removed for servicing or other work, access to the area around the panelboard should be guarded or limited to protect unqualified persons using the corridor."

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   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
1. 
   Matt | Dec 09, 2007 12:35am | #3

   Thanks guys - that answers it pretty thoroughly.