What’s Wrong Here? Hint: Room Type ― Electric or Storage?
Hint: Room type ― electric or storage?
Scroll down for the answer.
It looks as though this room is being used as both an electric room and a storage room. This is a common violation and a real pet peeve of mine.
Section 240.24(A) requires overcurrent devices to be readily accessible. Climbing over debris and removing other items to access these circuit breakers means the circuit breakers are no longer readily accessible.
Section 110.26 requires working space to be provided and maintained around electrical equipment to permit safe operation and maintenance of the equipment. Section 110.26(B) has very clear language that prohibits the working spaces for switchboards, panelboards, motor control centers and other equipment likely to be serviced, adjusted, or examined while energized, from being used for storage. Believe it or not, there are circuit breakers directly behind the large wooden shelving propped up against the switchboard. How would we even know they were there if we were trying to find them in an emergency? Any delay in gaining access to these circuit breakers quickly, could put the structure and more importantly, people’s lives at risk.
Building owners and managers must be made aware of the dangers and liabilities of using electric rooms as storage rooms.
About the Author
Russ LeBlanc
Owner
Russ started in the electrical trade as an apprentice in 1985. He worked his way up to become a Journeyman Electrician and then eventually became a Master Electrician and Licensed Construction Supervisor. In 1999 Russ become an Electrical Instructor for The Peterson School of Engineering in Massachusetts where he developed his passion for teaching, and quickly became Department Head of Electrical Instruction. Russ has taught thousands of apprentices, electricians, engineers, inspectors, and other electrical professionals during his career as an instructor. He continues to provide electrical professionals with Electrical Code seminars, Arc-Flash Awareness training seminars and educational material through his LeBlanc Consulting Services in North Reading, MA whose specialty is educating electricians. He has been an active member of the NFPA Electrical Section and has authored hundreds of National Electrical Code proposals and comments which have become Code rules to improve the safety for the electrical industry. Russ is also an IAEI certified Electrical Inspector.
Please visit www.russleblanc.net for more information.