NEC Dedicated Space

[timm333]

I am wondering what does NEC 110.26(E) imply. Does it mean that all electrical equipment should have a space of 6 feet at the top? 6 feet appears to be too much.

I am trying to put a 5 feet tall panelboard in a 10 feet high room. is it possible?

 

[dpc]

What NEC edition are you looking at - there have been changes.

Per the 2011 NEC:

110.26(A)(3) is referring to the required headroom within the working space. It just means you can't put a panelboard in a crawl space. Within the required working space in front (and perhaps behind) the equipment, the headroom must be at least 6.5 feet.

110.26(E) covers the dedicated electrical space above the equipment. This is something different. It has to be 6 feet above the equipment or to the structural ceiling, whichever is lower.



David Castor

http://www.cvoes.com

 

[jghrist]

The 6 1/2 ft headroom is measured from the floor not from the top of the equipment.

 

[timm333]

DPC, I was looking at NEC 2011.

Does this mean that the distance between the top of panelboard and tructural ceiling can be less than 6 feet?

 

[dpc]

Yes. "whichever is lower".

David Castor

http://www.cvoes.com

 

[jghrist]

Oops. I was looking at NEC-2005 110.26(E).

NEC-2011 110.26(E)(1) allows less distance than 6 ft if the structural ceiling is less than 6 ft from the top of the equipment.