Working space about electric equipment. These markings shall be of sufficient durability to withstand the environment involved. OSHA's electrical standards are designed to protect employees exposed to dangers such as electric shock, electrocution, fires, and explosions. Group 1. See if you can "orient" the disconnect so as to have requisite clearance in front. Safety of equipment shall be determined on the basis of the following considerations: Suitability for installation and use in conformity with the provisions of this subpart. Fortunately, the OSHA electrical panel clearance requirements are taken directly from the NEC. A worker has to be qualified, trained and can demonstrate skills, while exposed to electrical hazards. 5 Steps Before Working Lines or Equipment as De-Energized. Where rear access is required to work on de-energized parts on the back of enclosed equipment, a minimum working space of 30 inches (762 mm) horizontally shall be provided. In order for the 480 volt circuit(s) to be considered deenergized, the lockout and tagging requirements of paragraph 1910.333(b)(2) must be met. Low-Voltage Electrical Safety Orders (Sections 2299 - 2599) Group 2. 2. OSHA 1910.145(f)(4)(ii): "Signal word must be readable from a distance of 5 feet (1.52m)." OSHA 1910.303(e): "Electrical equipment may not be used unless the following markings have been placed on the equipment. Motors and appliances. Your letter has been referred to the Directorate of Enforcement Program's (DEP's) Office of General Industry Enforcement for an answer to your question regarding clearances from electrical equipment. Pan Here's a broad breakdown of space requirements when planning around electrical panels: The Ontario Electrical Safety Code ( OESC) deals in detail with permanent and temporary theatrical electrical installations. OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. Terms You Should Know: Working space: The front clearance, side clearance, and height clearance requirements for electrical equipment that provide a safe area for maintenance, inspections, and other work. Diffraction- and irradiation-type equipment shall have a pilot light, readable meter deflection, or equivalent means to indicate when the equipment is energized, unless the equipment or installation is effectively enclosed or is provided with interlocks to prevent access to live current-carrying parts during operation. In outdoor pool areas, lighting fixtures, lighting outlets, and ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans may not be installed over the pool or over the area extending 1.52 m (5 ft) horizontally from the inside walls of a pool unless no part of the lighting fixture of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan is less than 3.66 m (12 ft) above the maximum water level. Interrupting rating. Cord connectors may not be laid on the ground unless listed for wet locations. Cord- and plug-connected lighting fixtures installed within 4.88 m (16 ft) of the water surface of permanently installed pools; and. On elevators without generator field control, the disconnecting means shall be located within sight of the motor controller. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at http://www.osha.gov. In general, any electrical panel that has 0 to 150 volts going through it needs to have at least 36 of clearance around it. Safety of equipment shall be determined using the following considerations: Suitability for installation and use in conformity with the provisions of this subpart; Note to paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section:Suitability of equipment for an identified purpose may be evidenced by listing or labeling for that identified purpose. The points of control shall be located so that persons are prevented from contacting any live part or moving part of the equipment while turning on the lights. Any openings in such partitions or screens shall be so sized and located that persons are not likely to come into accidental contact with the live parts or to bring conducting objects into contact with them; By placement on a suitable balcony, gallery, or platform so elevated and otherwise located as to prevent access by unqualified persons; or. In addition, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. 1910.305 (g): Wiring requirements for flexible cords and cables. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at http://www.osha.gov. It is also easy to verify. Others will place the square around the area and then use diagonal stripes of floor markings to fill out the area, which makes it even more clear that nothing should be put in that place. ), whichever is greater. Q: Does OSHA standard 1910.303 include all electrical panels (i.e., electrical cabinets on machinery, electrical disconnects and breaker panels), or is it strictly related to breaker panels? Signs and outline lighting systems located within fountains shall have the disconnect located at least 1.52 m (5.0 ft) from the inside walls of the fountain. The dimension of the working space in the direction of access to live parts that may require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while alive shall be a minimum of 762 mm (2.5 ft). Electrical installations that are open to unqualified persons shall be made with metal-enclosed equipment or shall be enclosed in a vault or in an area, access to which is controlled by a lock. This is why OSHA has put a requirement that all electrical panels have a minimum of three feet (36 inches) of room from the front of the panel to the nearest obstacle . The manufacturer's name and trademark, other marking giving voltage, current, wattage or other ratings as necessary." 3Working space is not required in back of equipment such as dead-front switchboards or control assemblies that has no renewable or adjustable parts (such as fuses or switches) on the back and where all connections are accessible from locations other than the back. Metal frames and metal parts of rides, concessions, trailers, trucks, or other equipment that contain or support electrical equipment. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA's website at https://www.osha.gov. Examination, installation, and use of equipment -. The entrances to all buildings, rooms or enclosures containing exposed live parts or exposed conductors operating at over 600 volts, nominal, shall be kept locked or shall be under the observation of a qualified person at all times. Each sign and outline lighting system, or feeder circuit or branch circuit supplying a sign or outline lighting system, shall be controlled by an externally operable switch or circuit breaker that will open all ungrounded conductors. Removable links or removable conductors may be used as the disconnecting means. Circuits supplying power to ungrounded receptacles for hand-held, cord- and plug-connected equipment shall meet the following requirements: The circuits shall be electrically isolated from any distribution system supplying areas other than the cell line working zone and shall be ungrounded; The circuits shall be supplied through isolating transformers with primaries operating at not more than 600 volts between conductors and protected with proper overcurrent protection; The secondary voltage of the isolating transformers may not exceed 300 volts between conductors; and. The frames and enclosures of portable electric equipment used within the cell line working zone may not be grounded, unless the cell line circuit voltage does not exceed 200 volts DC or the frames are guarded. All Rights Re Installation and use. Integrated electrical systems covered by 1910.308(g) need not have the disconnecting means required by paragraph (e)(1) of this section. Each service, feeder, and branch circuit, at its disconnecting means or overcurrent device, shall be legibly marked to indicate its purpose, unless located and arranged so the purpose is evident. other equipment foreign to the electrical installation shall be located in . Flexible cords and cables shall be continuous without splice or tap between boxes or fittings. A disconnecting means shall be provided for each motor and controller. Grounding should be the last of these steps. Since the top of the panelboard is more than 6 1 / 2 feet above the floor, the minimum working space height required for this panelboard is the height of the panelboard. The provisions of paragraphs (j)(2), (j)(3), and (j)(4) of this section do not apply to equipment on the supply side of the service conductors. Concrete, brick, and tile walls are considered as grounded surfaces. This means once you understand the NEC panel clearance requirements, you will also know those that OSHA puts forth. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Subchapter 5. Ventilating or similar openings in metal-enclosed equipment shall be designed so that foreign objects inserted through these openings will be deflected from energized parts. NEC 110.26 (A) still applies even if equipment will be in an ESWC. Other factors which contribute to the practical safeguarding of employees using or likely to come in contact with the equipment. Electrical installations in a vault, room, or closet or in an area surrounded by a wall, screen, or fence, access to which is controlled by lock and key or other approved means, are considered to be accessible to qualified persons only. A good start is to make sure that you have a written policy that everyone in the facility is aware of that makes it clear that inventory and other items may not be placed around any electrical panel. This is not only important for avoiding getting fined for violating the requirements, but also for ensuring your facility is as safe as possible. [This document was amended on October 24, 2012 to strike information that no longer reflects current OSHA policy.] Rather than move the motor control center at a cost of two million dollars, can a "safe job procedure" which is audited periodically be considered an acceptable alternative or is a variance required? This paragraph covers the installation of portable wiring and equipment, including wiring in or on all structures, for carnivals, circuses, exhibitions, fairs, traveling attractions, and similar events. Footnote(2) NOTE: For SI units: one foot=0.3048 m. Elevation of unguarded live parts. The manually operated switch shall be installed adjacent to this equipment. A clearance of at least 3 feet is required for equipment using 120 to 250 volts. Does it require maintenance while energized? Installations accessible to qualified persons only. The lighting outlets shall be so arranged that persons changing lamps or making repairs on the lighting system will not be endangered by live parts or other equipment. Driving machines or motion and operation controllers not within sight of the disconnecting means shall be provided with a manually operated switch installed in the control circuit adjacent to the equipment in order to prevent starting. Entrance and access to workspace. Suitable enclosures or guards must be provided to prevent damage to this equipment. Classification by type, size, voltage, current capacity, specific use. Permanent and conspicuous warning signs shall be provided, reading substantially as follows: Pipes or ducts that are foreign to the electrical installation and that require periodic maintenance or whose malfunction would endanger the operation of the electrical system may not be located in the vicinity of service equipment, metal-enclosed power switchgear, or industrial control assemblies. Auxiliary nonelectrical connections. Conditions A, B, and C are as follows: Condition A - Exposed live parts on one side and no live or grounded parts on the other side of the working space, or exposed live parts on both sides effectively guarded by suitable wood or other insulating material. Motor controller enclosures for escalators or moving walks may be located in the balustrade on the side located away from the moving steps or moving treadway. [46 FR 4056, Jan. 16, 1981, as amended at 73 FR 64205, Oct. 29, 2008], Occupational Safety & Health Administration. Services, feeders, and branch circuits. OSHA Electrical Panel Clearance Requirements. Induction and dielectric heating equipment shall be protected as follows: Protective cages or adequate shielding shall be used to guard work applicators other than induction heating coils. For example, a switchboard is located next to a disconnect (safety) switch. This is for ANY electrical panel including the corner of the condenser where the wiring enters. Having an electrical panel clearance policy in place is very important not only for practical reasons, but also in order to comply with various regulations. Closely following the new requirements in the 2002 NEC for motor disconnect locations will help make safety a reality. Clear spaces. Working space for equipment likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized shall comply with the following dimensions, except as required or permitted elsewhere in this subpart: The depth of the working space in the direction of access to live parts may not be less than indicated in Table S-1. Services shall be installed in accordance with applicable requirements of this subpart, and, in addition, shall comply with the following: Service equipment may not be installed in a location that is accessible to unqualified persons, unless the equipment is lockable; and. Clearance. Access and entrance to working space. Parts of electric equipment which in ordinary operation produce arcs, sparks, flames, or molten metal shall be enclosed or separated and isolated from all combustible material. Minimum clear distances may be 0.7 m (2.5 ft) for installations built before April 16, 1981. Auxiliary nonelectrical connections such as air hoses, water hoses, and the like, to an electrolytic cell, its attachments, or auxiliary equipment may not have continuous conductive reinforcing wire, armor, braids, or the like. Where the working space required by paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this section is doubled, only one entrance to the working space is required; however, the entrance shall be located so that the edge of the entrance nearest the equipment is the minimum clear distance given in Table S-1 away from such equipment. Application for variances under Paragraph 1910.11 must include a statement showing how the conditions, practices, means, methods, operations, or processes used or proposed to be used would provide employment and places of employment to employees which are as safe and healthful as those required under the standard from which a variance is sought. Installations covered by paragraph (h) of this section shall comply with all applicable provisions of this subpart, except as follows: Disconnecting means. Measuring off the required distance around the electrical panels and putting down floor markings will make it extremely easy to see exactly where things can and cannot be placed. Mr. William Overby Electricity has long been recognized as a serious workplace hazard. Where rear access is required to work on deenergized parts on the back of enclosed equipment, a minimum working space of 762 mm (30 in.) This set of code identifies how much clearance is needed around any type of electrical panel based on a number of different factors. The disconnecting means shall open all ungrounded conductors simultaneously and shall be: Disconnecting means for cranes and monorail hoists. All temporary lamps for general illumination shall be protected from accidental breakage by a suitable fixture or lampholder with a guard. In locations where electric equipment would be exposed to physical damage, enclosures or guards shall be so arranged and of such strength as to prevent such damage. It shall also be protected by a ground-fault circuit interrupter installed in the branch circuit supplying the fixture. One of the main things that the NEC 110.26 specifies is that all electrical panels must have enough room around them that someone working on the equipment will have the room to safely access everything they need. Terminals for more than one conductor and terminals used to connect aluminum shall be so identified. Elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, moving walks, wheelchair lifts, and stairway chair lifts. John B. 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