This section applies to equipment that operates at 600 volts
or less.
(1) You must provide and
maintain sufficient access and working space around all electrical equipment to
permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of the equipment.
(2) You must make sure equipment likely to
require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized has:
(a) Working space in front of the equipment
that is equal to the width of the equipment or thirty inches, whichever is
greater.
(b) Sufficient working
space to permit equipment doors or hinged panels to open at least 90
degrees.
(c) Working space in the
direction of access to live parts that is not less than that listed in Table
XX. Distances are measured from the live parts if they are exposed or from the
enclosure front or opening if they are enclosed.
(d) Clear working space about service
equipment, switchboards, panelboards, or motor control centers that extends
from the grade, floor, or platform to a height of:
(i) 6.25 Feet for installations built before
August 13, 2007.
(ii) 6.5 Feet for
installations built on or after August 13, 2007. If the height of the equipment
is greater than 6.5 feet, the minimum headroom may not be less than the height
of the equipment.
|
Note:
|
* Other equipment associated with the
electrical installation and located above or below the electric equipment may
extend not more than 6 inches beyond the front of the electric equipment. |
(3) You must make sure working space is:
(a) Not used for storage.
(b) Suitably guarded when normally enclosed
live parts are exposed for inspection or servicing in a passageway or general
open space.
(4) You must
provide at least one entrance of sufficient area to give access to the working
space about electric equipment.
(5)
You must provide adequate lighting (WAC
296-800-210) for all
working spaces about service equipment, switchboards, panelboards, and motor
control centers installed indoors. In electric equipment rooms, the
illumination must not be controlled by automatic means only.
This table shows the area you must keep clear depending on
the layout of the electrical equipment.
Table XX
| Conditions2
|
Minimum Clear
Distance3
|
Minimum Clear
Distance3
|
|
0 - 150 volts to ground |
151 - 600 volts to ground |
| A1
|
3 ft. |
3 ft. |
| B |
3 ft.1
|
3 1/2 ft. |
| C |
3 ft. |
4 ft. |
1. Minimum clear
distances may be 0.7 m (2.5 ft) for installations built before April 16,
1981.
2. Conditions A, B, and C are
as follows:
A = Exposed live parts on one side and no live or grounded
parts on the other side of the working space, or exposed live parts on both
sides effectively guarded by suitable wood or other insulating material.
Insulated wire or insulated bus bars operating at not over 300 volts aren't
considered live parts.
B = Exposed live parts on one side and grounded parts on the
other side.
C = Exposed live parts on both sides of the workspace (not
guarded as provided in condition A with the operator between the
panels).
3. Working space
is not required in back of assemblies such as dead-front switchboards or motor
control centers where there are no renewable or adjustable parts (such as fuses
or switches) on the back and where all connections are accessible from
locations other than the back. Where rear access is required to work on
deenergized parts on the back of enclosed equipment, a minimum working space of
30 in. horizontally must be provided.
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