Working Space - Code Minimum

[@nebraskaninkansas347]

These videos are great. I own an old house built in 1947 I'm remodeling. The old fuse box had 4 circuits and was located in the rear entry foyer with the bathroom shower lines running behind it. Me I'm not a professional, but I am able to pull my own permits and do my own work on my own home where I live. Anyway after speaking with the electric inspector I decided to move the whole panel to the basement. So I always love helpful videos from professionals that help me understand the codes better as well before doing work. Basically the house is getting a rewire to fix the many code violations and bring it to modern standards.

[@kirkshirley1319]

Slight correction, you need 30 "side to side but can be offset to one side as long as you can open the cover at 90°. 2020 NEC 110.26 (A)(2)

[@luislazogue8089]

Kirk is right, if you have a 30” wall space the panel could be all the way to the right , center or all the way to the left, and the door will open more the 90° on any of this locations.

[@shockwaveelectric]

True! Doesn't have to be centered

[@donl1410]

I think tou may be misinterpreting NEC 110.26 (A)(2). It states that “the width of the working space in front of the electrical equipment shall be the width of the equipment or 762 mm (30 in.), whichever is greater.” In addition, this work space shall permit at least a 90-degree opening of the panelboard door. That is, the width of the working space can be measured from left-to-right, from right-to-left, or simply centered on the equipment, and the working space can overlap the working space for other electrical equipment such as other panelboards. 110.26(A)(3) Is the headroom required for the electrical panel installation. 110.26(E)(1)(a) through (E)(1)(d) refer to the Dedicated Equipment Space for indoor installations. 110.26(E)(1)(a) Dedicated Electrical Space. The footprint space (width and depth of the equipment) extending from the floor to a height of 6 ft above the equipment or to the structural ceiling, whichever is lower, must be dedicated for the electrical installation. No piping, ducts, or other equipment foreign to the electrical installation can be installed in this dedicated footprint space.

[@donl1410]

@@ElectricProAcademy Keep up the videos! 👍

[@BigmoRivera]

Great Job Nicely Done

[@rupe53]

I'd have to look up the 6 ft 6 in spec (78 inches) but the way you have that worded it sounds as if you might need a 12+ foot ceiling. (panel height PLUS 78" work space above) I suspect they mean 78" floor to ceiling as in working room for the average size guy.

[@JohnThomas-lq5qp]

The metric loving NEC raised the top of handle on a circuit breaker from 6'6" to 6'7" to make it two meters a while ago.

[@SeanWhiteSolar]

Great video!

[@noel1491a]

How close can the first receptacle be from that box? Can it be right under it?

[@DjGho5t1]

Great video

[@pancho20006]

I have an old home just replace the old breaker box on top runs a water line should i remove that water line that goes to a water spigot its a pex line

[@keithharrington4595]

Thanks bro I appreciated it.

[@jnilesjr]

If you have a 200 amp service and co-locate panels adjacent to it are they considered to be in the same working space?

[@Jeffnham]

In my house (late 30's built), the main panel is located directly over the sump crock! It's a 100 amp panel that was installed around 1980. Thinking about upgrading to 200 amps, would I have to move the panel to another location?

[@Jeffnham]

@@ElectricProAcademy Thanks!

[@djpmatchbox]

Don't quote me, but being that your electric panel has been there forever, you would be grandfathered into leaving it there (again, do not quote me on that)

[@joseaguirre4169]

Joel, To mount 2-main panels of 200 Amps each, do I too make a 15-inch space between each panel?

[@BigDooooley]

No, provided there is 30” of clear space, that 30” can be shared by other equipment. I go by the rule that the doors can’t overlap but NEC does not. You can mount 2 14.5” panels tight together and as long as 1 has an inch to a wall it’s legal. If you decide to do this make sure the covers fit before you do.

[@stevetracy437]

So, does the workspace include from the floor to the 6'6" height? I could not have a shelf below the bottom of box?

[@stevetracy437]

@@ElectricProAcademy Thanks. What about movable furniture?

[@stevetracy437]

@@ElectricProAcademy Any grandfather clauses for older homes?

[@jnilesjr]

Can 3 sub panels be side by side? In adjacent stud bays?

[@JohnThomas-lq5qp]

Yes.

[@eliwebber6292]

What about doors coming into Panel area

[@Bryankrall8090]

The clearance is the same as a toilet left to right haha

[@gabemartino5634]

What if there is a work bench directly under the panel?

[@4GSR]

Yeah, I have a portable air compressor that sits in front of my panel in the garage. I can still access the panel without moving the A/C. I would have to move it to make it safe to work on the panel. Without reading up on the code, I'm not sure if there are exceptions to the rule for residential or not.

[@lockpickingvlad]

How low can a panel be? 😊

[@lockpickingvlad]

@@ElectricProAcademy Thanks, that totally makes sense.

[@illestofdemall13]

​@@ElectricProAcademy NEC 110.26(A)(2) states that “the width of the working space in front of the electrical equipment shall be the width of the equipment or 762 mm (30 in.), whichever is greater.” In all cases, the work space shall permit at least a 90 degree opening of equipment doors or hinged panels." That means that the 30 inches isn't from the center point. There are also plenty of graphics on Mike Holt's website and his KZbin channel to demonstrate this.

[@jaylund7426]

I can't believe this is just about aways left out... I was blow away when I learned this. I can't tell if it applies here due to the main breaker. It does look like SER and not SEU, that tells me there's a disconnect. And when 2020 is adopted all new services will require a disconnect outside... So all the "working space" goes out the window. It's that two words "while energize". Therefore if there's a disconnect outside its a sub-panel ect, theres no minimum space. Well the door needs to open to 90 degrees, pull the cover off, ect. But none of that other pesky 30 inches and such. 110.26(A) Working Space Working space for equipment operating at 1000 volts, 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), (A)(2), (A)(3), and (A)(4) or as required or permitted elsewhere in this Code. I try to get as much space as possible but this is a good one to have in your back pocket. I have installed a disconnect to make this work instead of moving a panel.

[@priceandpride]

That explains why I can’t hide my panel in the closet

[@bryanknudsen8100]

Worked on many places where the breaker panel is in a bedroom where it would be behind the door when the door is open, and also only a couple feet from the side wall. Mostly see this in condos and townhomes. Is that permitted?

[@priceandpride]

That’s a sub-panel, probably only 60-100 amps

[@atomicdmt8763]

I dont think 30" needs to be centered......... it can start as far over as one edge.

[@sammyyourmammy8170]

hurry up anmd put the panel cover on, the make up work in that panel is super ugly..........