Author: Jake

Although this is not a code change it is very important to understand the requirements of this section.

I know we where looking at the one of most violated section of the code 110.26 Spaces About Electrical Equipment several months back and I would like to continue on with that section and examine the safety factors built into these minimums.  There are several clearances that come into play when placing equipment for an electrical installation.  The first is the obvious one of being able to walk up to a panel or some other piece of equipment and service or examine it.  Directly in front of a panel is a minimum of 3’.  That 3’ is the absolute minimum and nothing less, this gives you a quick escape incase something happens and it blows up or shorts out , that 3’ gives you a chance to escape.  I don’t know how equipment can be left with any measurement less than 3’ because it is your life and safety that is the reason for this requirement.  The crews that I work with have come to understand the minimum working clearance in front of equipment, and how important it is, and the reasons behind the requirements of the code.  So over the next couple of weeks and months I will try to examine the clearances and what the minimums are, and why they are so important. 

One of the best teaching tools I have found in the last ten years is my camera and the pictures it takes in order to document our quest for a safer electrical installation. Showing you what I find and how to correct it, is better understood than telling you that you violated a section of the Code. 

I know it has been a while since I have posted anything but my transition back into the private sector has take more time than I thought it would, so I hope to be back on track now that I have settled in to my new job.

  Till the next time, work safe, be safe

Jake

Former Chief Electrical Inspector WPB

Sizing a gutter for the proper fit is relatively easy.  I get a lot of calls to make sure that the gutter that they are using is up to code. 

We are allowed by code to fill a gutter to 20%. of its interior cross-sectional area (366.22(A),(B))  This is for both sheet metal and Nonmetallic gutters

Figuring the 20% is easy, for example.

If you have a 6 X 6 gutter, that would have total of 36 sq. in. and 20% of that is 7.2 sq. in. (36  X  20%  =  7.2 sq. in.) of space to use.  Table

5 is used for the area per conductor.  Take a 3/0 THWN conductor it is listed at .2679 sq. in.for each.  if you wanted to know how many could be

used in a 6  X  6 gutter, you can take the 7.2 sq. in. and   divide it by .2679 to get the maximum number that would be allowed to be installed in

that gutter.  7.2  /  .2679  =  26 conductors. 

You would also have to check the wire bending space minimum from Table 312.6(A). which would require a minimum of 4’” for a 3/0 conductor.

Till next time, work safe always check the circuit with a tester.