Dual egress required for electrical control rooms?

[Safetyranger]

We have a compressor room with 480v electrical mains housed inside. There are double doors on each end of this room. The department where this is located is undergoing a complete layout update. The question has been posed as to weather or not the dual egress is required or can they remove one set of doors. I am finding conflicting information in 29 CFR 1910. Does anyone have a source that better defines the requirements for electrical control rooms? There are no exposed parts as all are in approved enclosures.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Regardless of any codes, I sure hate getting trapped by fires - very unhealthy!! That second hand smoke will just kill you!!

 

[Safetyranger]

Agreed. I wish I could answer that way when I present why I am against the move, however, my oppinion will not get near the mileage that a good ole government building code will when I tell them why they can't do it.

 

[safetyguy3]

This would not be an OSHA issue, it would be a NEC issue. It looks like it falls under NEC 110.26(c) Do a google search for that and see if it helps you out.

 

[PersonalProfile]

Not that it is really applicable for your application, though AS3000 provides guidence on this, which may be useful for benchmarking.

http://www.saiglobal.com/PDFTemp/Previews/OSH/as/as3000/3000/N3000.pdf

Regards,
Lyle

 

[Safetyranger]

Thank you all for the input. The NEC reference took me straight to what I was looking for. The dual egress will be maintained.

 

[chicopee]

What did the NEC reference say? Please summarize because the requirement for exits that I am aware is based on occupant load and distance to the nearest exit.

 

[Safetyranger]

Large equipment. When working with equipment rated 1,200A or more, and wider than 6 ft, you must provide at least one entrance not less than 24 in. wide and 6 1/2 ft high at each end of the workspace [110.26(C)(2)].

There are exceptions cited but this room did not meet the criteria to utilize these exceptions.

 

[chicopee]

Which seems consistent with minimum of one exit if occupant load is no more than 50 persons and travel distance from the further point in the room is 50'.