What's Wrong Here

Jul 8, 2004 1:22 PM, By Joe Tedesco

If you look closely, you can see an electrical panel hiding behind the copper piping system. The panel is now inaccessible. It’s hard to believe that the heat and plumbing system passed inspection – or did it?

This installation violates working space rules as noted in 110.26 (Spaces About Electrical Equipment) of the 2002 NEC, which states “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.”

Sec. 110.26(A) (Working Space) goes on to state, “Working space for equipment operating at 600V, 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), (2), and (3) or as required or permitted elsewhere in this Code.”