Defiance, Ohio 43512 The top of the disconnect switch is only 72 inches (6 feet) above the floor. Exposed live parts on one side and grounded parts on the other side. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2)(iv) of this section, a motor-circuit switch, molded case switch, or circuit breaker shall be provided in the leads from the runway contact conductors or other power supply on all cranes and monorail hoists. The conductive surfaces of cranes and hoists that enter the cell line working zone need not be grounded. A disconnecting means shall be provided in the supply circuit. Power supply circuits and receptacles for portable electric equipment. Unless isolated from equipment by height or physical enclosures or covers that will afford adequate mechanical protection from vehicular traffic or accidental contact by unauthorized personnel or that complies with paragraph (g)(1)(vii)(A)(2) of this section, piping, ducts, or equipment foreign to the electrical installation may not be located in this area; The space equal to the width and depth of the equipment shall be kept clear of foreign systems unless protection is provided to avoid damage from condensation, leaks, or breaks in such foreign systems. This is for ANY electrical panel including the corner of the condenser where the wiring enters. Except as required or permitted elsewhere in this subpart, live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more shall be guarded against accidental contact by cabinets or other forms of enclosures, or by any of the following means: By location in a room, vault, or similar enclosure that is accessible only to qualified persons. The lighting outlets shall be arranged so that persons changing lamps or making repairs on the lighting system will not be endangered by live parts or other equipment. 3. Line connectors are of the listed sequential-interlocking type so that load connectors are connected in the following sequence: Equipment grounding conductor connection; Grounded circuit-conductor connection, if provided; and, Ungrounded conductor connection; and so that disconnection is in the reverse order; or. Electrical installations that are open to unqualified persons shall be made with metal-enclosed equipment or shall be enclosed in a vault or in an area, access to which is controlled by a lock. Conductors shall be racked to provide ready and safe access in underground and subsurface enclosures that persons enter for installation and maintenance. Other factors which contribute to the practical safeguarding of employees using or likely to come in contact with the equipment. All Rights Re Interrupting rating. OSHA's electrical standards are designed to protect employees exposed to dangers such as electric shock, electrocution, fires, and explosions. D-TPMS, Service required and DTC's DTC Diagnostic Trouble Codes with D-TPMS can be identified by one of the following VDN codes:. Would deenergizing the 110 volt control circuit as described in the scenario above be considered infeasible as delineated in the aforementioned standard? This exception was put in to correspond to 430.107 that requires at least one of the disconnecting means required for a motor and motor controller to be readily accessible. At least one entrance shall be provided to give access to the working space about electric equipment. Disconnecting means. Where installed outdoors, the box shall be of weatherproof construction and mounted so that the bottom of the enclosure is not less than 152 mm (6 in.) This is why OSHA has put a requirement that all electrical panels have a minimum of three feet (36 inches) of room from the front of the panel to the nearest obstacle . Obstructed access to panelboards can prevent personnel from shutting down the source of power in the event of an accident. Working space. Switches operated by foot pressure shall be provided with a shield over the contact button to avoid accidental closing of the switch. Where controls are enclosed in cabinets, the doors shall either open at least 90 degrees or be removable. Exception. Where circuit breakers or fuses are applied in compliance with the series combination ratings marked on the equipment by the manufacturer, the equipment enclosures shall be legibly marked in the field to indicate that the equipment has been applied with a series combination rating. Installation and use. This means if you have an inspection, you can count on the fact that the OSHA electrical panel clearance will be measured by the OSHA inspector to make sure that you are in compliance. Miles, Jr., Director Walls constructed of concrete, brick, or tile are considered to be grounded. By elevation of 2.44 m (8.0 ft) or more above the floor or other working surface. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Outdoor electric equipment shall be installed in suitable enclosures and shall be protected from accidental contact by unauthorized personnel, or by vehicular traffic, or by accidental spillage or leakage from piping systems. February 7, 1996 There would be no additional need to deenergize circuits for other equipment to deenergize a motor and its controller disconnected by an individual disconnecting means which meets paragraph 1910.305(j)(4) requirements. Ungrounded portable electric equipment shall be distinctively marked and shall employ plugs and receptacles of a configuration that prevents connection of this equipment to grounding receptacles and that prevents inadvertent interchange of ungrounded and grounded portable electric equipment. A lighting fixture facing upward shall have the lens adequately guarded to prevent contact by any person. By partitions or screens so arranged that only qualified persons will have access to the space within reach of the live parts. Note to paragraph (h)(5)(vi) of this section: Piping and other facilities are not considered foreign if provided for fire protection of the electrical installation. Other markings giving voltage, current, wattage, or other ratings as necessary. Requirements for working clearances and spaces around electrical equipment, e.g., ladder cable trays. Having an electrical panel clearance policy in place is very important not only for practical reasons, but also in order to comply with various regulations. 2023 Electrical Safety Expert | All Rights Reserved, NEC + OSHA Electrical Panel Clearance Requirements, Understanding NEC Panel Clearance Requirements, OSHA Electrical Panel Clearance Requirements. Where accessible to unqualified persons, the enclosure for the switch or circuit breaker shall be of the lockable type. 2. Cranes and hoists. The NFPA is focused largely on reducing the risk of fires from occurring so that everyone can remain safe. According to the OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.303 (g), companies are required to provide 3 feet of clearance around electrical services and breaker panels with between 120 and 250 volts. The width of Panel or 0.762 Meter which is Greater. Equipment intended to break current shall have an interrupting rating at system voltage sufficient for the current that must be interrupted. We appreciate your interest in occupational safety and health. Splices. Identification of manufacturer and ratings. 0.9 Meter. Electrolytic cells. Limit switch. Scenario: Workplace motor control centers have boxes with 480 volts disconnects and 110 volt control power with the same box. Resistance welders. [This document was amended on October 24, 2012 to strike information that no longer reflects current OSHA policy.] The manually operated switch shall be installed adjacent to this equipment. The marking required by paragraph (f)(5)(i) of this section shall be readily visible and shall state Caution - Series Combination System Rated __ Amperes. Fortunately, the OSHA electrical panel clearance requirements are taken directly from the NEC. Panels with 151 to 600 volts should have 42 of clearance around it. They also Secondly, installation can be tricky if one switches from an electric unit to a hybrid gas water heater or vice versa because of the required retrofitting. In addition to the dimensions shown in Table K-1, workspace shall not be less than 30 inches (762 mm) wide in front of the electric equipment. High-Voltage Electrical Safety Orders (Sections 2700 - 2989) Clear Height in front of Panel >480V. Electric equipment shall be firmly secured to the surface on which it is mounted. Flexible cords and cables shall be listed for extra-hard usage. According to the National Electric Code, any electrical panel with 0 to 150 volts should have 36 inches of clearance around it for both the person working on it and their tools. Other factors that contribute to the practical safeguarding of persons using or likely to come in contact with the equipment. Distances shall be measured from the live parts, if they are exposed, or from the enclosure front or opening, if they are enclosed. This NEC working clearance will provide not only the person working on the equipment with room, but also their tools. What About NFPA 70e Electrical Panel Clearance? Marking. See if you can "orient" the disconnect so as to have requisite clearance in front. We hope you find this information helpful. Mr. John C. (Jack) Schuldt, Sr. Specific purpose equipment and installations. The use of single-pole separable connectors shall comply with at least one of the following conditions: Connection and disconnection of connectors are only possible where the supply connectors are interlocked to the source and it is not possible to connect or disconnect connectors when the supply is energized; or. Breaker panels should be easily accessible and should never be blocked. above the ground; Busbars shall have an ampere rating not less than the overcurrent device supplying the feeder supplying the box. Clearance To ensure that an electrical panel can be accessed at all times - during inspection, maintenance or emergency - OSHA has determined that the working space in front of the equipment must be at least 30-inches wide (or the width of the equipment). Of course, this means having a lot of different wires and other electrical equipment located in one area. [46 FR 4056, Jan. 16, 1981, as amended at 73 FR 64205, Oct. 29, 2008], Occupational Safety & Health Administration. A wall, screen, or fence less than 8 feet (2.44 m) in height is not considered adequate to prevent access unless it has other features that provide a degree of isolation equivalent to an 8-foot (2.44-m) fence. Working space for equipment likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized shall comply with the following dimensions, except as required or permitted elsewhere in this subpart: The depth of the working space in the direction of access to live parts may not be less than indicated in Table S-1. Except as elsewhere required or permitted in this subpart, the minimum clear working space in the direction of access to live parts of electric equipment may not be less than specified in Table S-2. Filter by. The disconnecting means shall be constructed, enclosed, or located so as to avoid contact by employees with its live parts. Each service, feeder, and branch circuit, at its disconnecting means or overcurrent device, shall be legibly marked to indicate its purpose, unless located and arranged so the purpose is evident. Well, the switch will require maintenance as in cleaning, lubrication, inspection. Disconnecting means. Question 2: A motor control center does not meet Table S-1 work clearances required under paragraph 1910.303(g)(1) when working on live parts operating at 600 volts or less. Durability of markings. A readily accessible disconnecting means shall be provided by which each heating equipment can be isolated from its supply circuit. Cooling. 1. On wheelchair lifts and stairway chair lifts, the disconnecting means shall be located within sight of the motor controller. Entrances to rooms and other guarded locations containing exposed live parts shall be marked with conspicuous warning signs forbidding unqualified persons to enter. It designs clearance requirements that make sure employees have enough space around workplace equipment and in work and walking spaces. Equipment intended to interrupt current at fault levels shall have an interrupting rating sufficient for the nominal circuit voltage and the current that is available at the line terminals of the equipment. Suitability of equipment for an identified purpose may be evidenced by listing, labeling, or certification for that identified purpose. The points of control shall be located so that persons are prevented from contacting any live part or moving part of the equipment while turning on the lights. This is not only important for avoiding getting fined for violating the requirements, but also for ensuring your facility is as safe as possible. Means shall be provided at the operating station to open the power circuit to all motors of the crane or monorail hoist where the disconnecting means is not readily accessible from the crane or monorail hoist operating station. For failure to abate violations, the penalty amount is $14,502 per day beyond the abatement date. Induction heating coils shall be protected by insulation or refractory materials or both. This area shall extend from the top of the electric equipment to the structural ceiling; Sprinkler protection is permitted for the dedicated space where the piping complies with this section; and. Condition B - Exposed live parts on one side and grounded parts on the other side. 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. The following requirements apply to outdoor enclosed equipment accessible to unqualified employees: Ventilating or similar openings in equipment shall be so designed that foreign objects inserted through these openings will be deflected from energized parts; Where exposed to physical damage from vehicular traffic, suitable guards shall be provided; Nonmetallic or metal-enclosed equipment located outdoors and accessible to the general public shall be designed so that exposed nuts or bolts cannot be readily removed, permitting access to live parts; Where nonmetallic or metal-enclosed equipment is accessible to the general public and the bottom of the enclosure is less than 2.44 m (8.0 ft) above the floor or grade level, the enclosure door or hinged cover shall be kept locked; and. Our interpretations letters explain the requirements, and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they can not create additional employer obligations. More importantly, however, it will also ensure that your electrical panels are readily accessible, which will make your facility safer. Materials such as solder, fluxes, inhibitors, and compounds, where employed, shall be suitable for the use and shall be of a type that will not adversely affect the conductors, installation, or equipment. 2 or larger. OSHA standard 1910.303 clearance requirements apply to many types of electrical equipment, not just breaker panels. Insulated wire or insulated busbars operating at not over 300 volts are not considered live parts. If sprinklers are installed in hoistways, machine rooms, or machinery spaces, the disconnecting means may automatically open the power supply to the affected elevators prior to the application of water. On single-car and multicar installations, equipment receiving electrical power from more than one source shall be provided with a disconnecting means for each source of electrical power. Reply: 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(ii) and 1910.303(h)(2)(ii) address the protection of electric equipment that may be exposed to physical damage. 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. Assuming you meant "while energized": Following the 110.26 NEC standards is fairly easy. Conditions A, B, and C are as follows: Condition 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. Electric equipment and wiring methods in or on rides, concessions, or other units shall be provided with mechanical protection where such equipment or wiring methods are subject to physical damage. Metal-enclosed switchgear, unit substations, transformers, pull boxes, connection boxes, and other similar associated equipment shall be marked with appropriate caution signs. Headroom. All fluidizing lines-would have to be purged in order to prevent plugging of the line. Monitoring System (TPMS) Sensor Training in this section. Detachable panels not normally used for access to such parts shall be fastened in a manner that will make them difficult to remove (for example, by requiring the use of tools). If the disconnect for a piece of HVAC equipment doesn't have any fuses, then can you make the argument the switch will not require maintenance so that 3' clearance isn't required? A ground-fault circuit interrupter shall be installed in the branch circuit supplying underwater fixtures operating at more than 15 volts. Electrical is addressed in specific OSHA standards for general industry and maritime. Subchapter 5. General. Electrical Safety. Cells used as a source of electric energy and for electroplating processes and cells used for production of hydrogen are not covered by this paragraph. Any openings in such partitions or screens shall be so sized and located that persons are not likely to come into accidental contact with the live parts or to bring conducting objects into contact with them; By placement on a suitable balcony, gallery, or platform so elevated and otherwise located as to prevent access by unqualified persons; or. Where there is more than one driving machine in a machine room, the disconnecting means shall be numbered to correspond to the identifying number of the driving machine that they control. OSHA's position that the main or emergency switches must be capable of being locked out. Motor controllers may be located outside the spaces otherwise required by paragraph (c) of this section, provided they are in enclosures with doors or removable panels capable of being locked closed and the disconnecting means is located adjacent to or is an integral part of the motor controller. 3. OSHA Requirements for Electrical Panel Floor Markings