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Friday, November 1, 2019
Question:
Charlie, I’ve looked at and tried to understand 110.26 and I’m somewhat confused. I believe somewhere it is written door swings on all electrical rooms, small and large, should swing out for safety reasons (Shock, heart, fire). If the electrician is on the floor in front of the door outside help cannot enter. It just seems like common sense to have all doors swing out.
Bill Petrovic
A
Answer:
Hey Bill thanks for your question. Access, working space and dedicated space is required by 110.26 but doors and rooms are not. For equipment rated 800 amperes or more that contains overcurrent devices, switching devices, or control devices, any door intended for entrance and egress within 25 ft of the equipment's working space must open in the direction of egress (open outwards) and be equipped with listed panic hardware. That wording only applies if a door exists, it does not require a door. For lower rated equipment there is no rule requiring the door to open in a certain direction but you do have a point. If you have sufficient substantiation for other applications consider submitting a Public Input for the 2023 NEC.