Section 110.26(E) requires that switchboards and panelboards be located in “dedicated spaces” and protected from damage. The space that extends directly above the switchboards to the structural ceiling or a height of 6 ft above the equipment (whichever is lower) is dedicated to the electrical installation. No foreign piping or leak protection apparatus can be located in this space. The drip pan makes it impossible for an electrician to install any pipes into the top of the switchboard. In addition, take note of where the drip pan drains. I guess the small switchboard gets sacrificed in order to save the big switchboard from any water damage.
This photo was taken in an elevator machine room. Section 620.21(A)(3) does not permit the use of electrical nonmetallic tubing (ENT) as a wiring method in an elevator machine room. As you can see in the photo, the installer also creatively used flexible metal conduit (FMC) connectors on the ENT. This is a violation of Sec. 300.15, which requires connectors to be used only with the specific wiring methods for which they are designed and listed. Also in question is the equipment grounding conductor. If there is no equipment grounding conductor run inside the ENT, the fixed electric space heater is not bonded and grounded properly.