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Thursday, August 27, 2015
Question:
Re: CQD answer published Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - Working Space Access 1
1. Regarding your answer to the Monday August 17th question regarding crawling on hands and knees under duct work to reach the panel board location: NEC 240.24 requires overcurrent devices to be readily accessible which is “capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to actions such as to use tools, to climb over or remove obstacles, or to resort to portable ladders and so forth. Having to crawl on your hands and knees under duct work would not meet the definition of readily accessible in my opinion.
Sincerely, Mike Bressler
2. Where access to the 1200A panel requires crawling. Some added thoughts to your excellent discussion of 110.26.
True, the path to the working space does not seem to be directly addressed, BUT I do think that the devices I assume to be in the panel (IE : circuit breakers, fused switches) must be Readily Accessible. That requirement is defined, and I think that the path must be continuous to these switching device(s). Since "operations, renewal, or inspections" are certainly required, I think that the stairs (and permanent ladders) are probably OK, but requiring crawling is not.
Scott Cline
A
Answer:
Hey Mike and Scott thanks for your comments, you both have excellent points. Yes, the panelboards described in the original question need to be readily accessible because of the overcurrent devices as stated in 240.24(A) which includes maxim height of 6 ft. 7 inches. But unfortunately the definition of Accessible, Readily does not mention crawling. The term quickly is not defined or described and I've seen some people crawl very quickly, like maybe after they were hiding under a bed. The situation described in the example is not good so improving the language in the NEC would probably be helpful. Several Public Inputs were submitted to the definition of Accessible, Readily for the 2017 NEC so it is open for all to submit comments. That is how we can all improve the NEC.