National Electrical Installation Standards

Standards as High as Your Own

 
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Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Question:

Electrical Power Panel-Code for space in front of panel, over panel, Plumbing pipes over Electrical panels.

Jeff Teeter

A

Answer:

Hey Jeff thanks for your question. Access and working space for electrical equipment operating at 1000 volts or less must be provided and maintained as stated in 110.26. Equipment that is likely to need examination, adjustment, servicing or maintenance -while energized, must have working spaces that meets the dimensions in 110.26 (A)(1) through (A)(4). These subdivisions include minimum depth, width and height dimensions based on voltages to ground and specific conditions.

Switchboards, switchgear, panelboards and motor control centers must be provided with dedicated space as stated in 110.26(E). This space applies up to 6 ft above and for any space that exists below the equipment to the floor equal to the depth and width of the equipment for indoor installations as stated in 110.26(E)(1). Foreign equipment such as plumbing piping is not allowed in that space.

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