The disconnecting means shall open all ungrounded conductors simultaneously and shall be: Disconnecting means for cranes and monorail hoists. Entrances to rooms and other guarded locations containing exposed live parts shall be marked with conspicuous warning signs forbidding unqualified persons to enter. Disconnecting means. For failure to abate violations, the penalty amount is $14,502 per day beyond the abatement date. All electrical conductors and equipment shall be approved. It also helps by segmenting the power off in a way that prevents a full power outage when there is an issue in one area. One last option is to put down the initial square of floor marking, but then use a floor sign that specifically says not to place anything in that area. Dayton, Ohio 45420 A disconnecting means shall be provided in the supply circuit. If remote controls are used for applying power, a selector switch shall be provided and interlocked to provide power from only one control point at a time. It is just as important to create your own set of policies and procedures to ensure that you are always in compliance with the various regulations. July 26, 2004 Cables and mats shall be arranged so as not to present a tripping hazard. By elevation of 2.44 m (8.0 ft) or more above the floor or other working surface. Employers may only use portable distribution and termination boxes that meet the following requirements: Occupational Safety & Health Administration. Equipment intended to interrupt current at fault levels shall have an interrupting rating sufficient for the nominal circuit voltage and the current that is available at the line terminals of the equipment. Clearance. Electrical Safety Orders. Elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, moving walks, wheelchair lifts, and stairway chair lifts. OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards and regulations. 1The minimum elevation may be 2.6 m (8.5 ft) for installations built before August 13, 2007. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. This means once you understand the NEC panel clearance requirements, you will also know those that OSHA puts forth. At least one entrance not less than 24 inches (610 mm) wide and 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) high shall be provided to give access to the working space about electric equipment. Equipment intended to break current shall have an interrupting rating at system voltage sufficient for the current that must be interrupted. Motor controllers may be located outside the spaces otherwise required by paragraph (c) of this section, provided they are in enclosures with doors or removable panels capable of being locked closed and the disconnecting means is located adjacent to or is an integral part of the motor controller. Lighting fixtures and lighting outlets installed in the area extending between 1.52 m (5 ft) and 3.05 m (10 ft) horizontally from the inside walls of a pool shall be protected by a ground-fault circuit interrupter unless installed 1.52 m (5 ft) above the maximum water level and rigidly attached to the structure adjacent to or enclosing the pool. The employer shall ensure that electrical equipment is free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. In all cases, the working space shall permit at least a 90-degree opening of equipment doors or hinged panels; and. Sufficient access and working space shall be provided and maintained about all electric equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment. Motor controllers. Minimum clear distances may be 0.7 m (2.5 ft) for installations built before April 16, 1981. Entrances to rooms and other guarded locations containing exposed live parts shall be marked with conspicuous warning signs forbidding unqualified persons to enter. However, other equipment associated with the electrical installation and located above or below the electric equipment may extend not more than 153 mm (6 in.) Footnote(2) NOTE: For SI units: one foot=0.3048 m. Elevation of unguarded live parts. Here's a broad breakdown of space requirements when planning around electrical panels: Of course, it is also important to try to determine who placed the item there so that they can be provided with the relevant training to ensure it does not happen again. Receptacles and their mating plugs for ungrounded equipment may not have provision for a grounding conductor and shall be of a configuration that prevents their use for equipment required to be grounded. At least one entrance of sufficient area shall be provided to give access to the working space about electric equipment. A means shall be provided to disconnect power to all electronic equipment in an information technology equipment room. Application for variances are covered under 29 CFR Part 1905. A disconnecting means shall be provided in the supply circuit for each arc welder that is not equipped with a disconnect mounted as an integral part of the welder. 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. However, a disconnecting means is not required for an exit directional sign located within a building or for cord-connected signs with an attachment plug. OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards, and regulations. The marking shall be of sufficient durability to withstand the environment involved. The safety-related work practices under paragraphs 1910.331 through 1910.335 are predicated on compliance with the aforementioned electrical installation requirements. Includes references that provide information related to electrical in construction including OSHA's electrical construction regulations, hazard recogition, possible solutions and additional resources. Interconnection between multicar controllers. There should be at least three to three-and-a-half feet of clearance in front of all electrical disconnects and breaker panels. For equipment connected to a 120-volt branch circuit of 30 amperes or less, a grounding-type attachment plug cap and receptacle of proper rating may serve as a disconnecting means. The disconnecting means shall be readily accessible and capable of being locked in the open position. Most facilities will already have floor marking tape on hand since it is one of the most commonly used safety items around. On a regular basis, they should go out and inspect the areas around them to make sure nothing has been placed where it should not go. Warning labels or signs that read DANGER - HIGH VOLTAGE - KEEP OUT shall be attached to the equipment and shall be plainly visible where persons might contact energized parts when doors are opened or closed or when panels are removed from compartments containing over 250 volts ac or dc. In previous NEC editions, transformers didn't require a disconnecting means. All fluidizing lines-would have to be purged in order to prevent plugging of the line. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. For the NEC 2020, there's an added article titled 230.85 Emergency Disconnects. Clearance is the shortest distance between two conductive parts Dry arcing distance (or arc distance) Parts of electric equipment that in ordinary operation produce arcs, sparks, flames, or molten metal shall be enclosed or separated and isolated from all combustible material. Enclosure for electrical installations. The disconnecting means shall be a switch or circuit breaker, and its rating may not be less than that necessary to accommodate overcurrent protection. Electrical panels are an essential component in any facility. Breaker panels should be easily accessible and should never be blocked. The minimum working space height required for this disconnect switch is 6 1 / 2 feet (see Figure 1). It shall also be protected by a ground-fault circuit interrupter installed in the branch circuit supplying the fixture. This is necessary for all types of work including examination of the electrical panel, making adjustments to the electrical panel, servicing the electrical panel, and of course, performing maintenance on the electrical panel. A clearance of at least 3 feet is required for equipment using 120 to 250 volts. Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling. Protection of electric equipment. Electrolytic cells. In electric equipment rooms, the illumination may not be controlled by automatic means only. The area must not only remain completely clear of items at all times, but it also needs to be accessible. All electric equipment, including power supply cords, operating at more than 15 volts and used with fountains shall be protected by ground-fault circuit interrupters. Examination, installation, and use of equipment -. In general, any electrical panel that has 0 to 150 volts going through it needs to have at least 36 of clearance around it. When normally enclosed live parts are exposed for inspection or servicing, the working space, if in a passageway or general open space, shall be guarded. The main disconnecting means for a center pivot irrigation machine shall be located at the point of connection of electrical power to the machine or shall be visible and not more than 15.2 m (50 ft) from the machine. Specific purpose equipment and installations. The disconnecting means shall be constructed, enclosed, or located so as to avoid contact by employees with its live parts. Placed within view of the runway contact conductors. Cooling. Where bare energized parts at any voltage or insulated energized parts above 600 volts are located adjacent to such entrance, they shall be guarded. OSHA standard 1910.303 clearance requirements apply to many types of electrical equipment, not just breaker panels. This exception was put in to correspond to 430.107 that requires at least one of the disconnecting means required for a motor and motor controller to be readily accessible. Mechanical execution of work. Cells used as a source of electric energy and for electroplating processes and cells used for production of hydrogen are not covered by this paragraph. Question 2: A motor control center does not meet Table S-1 work clearances required under paragraph 1910.303(g)(1) when working on live parts operating at 600 volts or less. 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. 1. The conductive surfaces of cranes and hoists that enter the cell line working zone need not be grounded. Where there are live parts normally exposed on the front of switchboards or motor control centers, the working space in front of such equipment shall not be less than 3 feet (914 mm). Services, feeders, and branch circuits. General. Electrical equipment which depends upon the natural circulation of air and convection principles for cooling of exposed surfaces shall be installed so that room air flow over such surfaces is not prevented by walls or by adjacent installed equipment. Operation. Where doors are used giving access to voltages from 500 to 1000 volts ac or dc, either door locks shall be provided or interlocks shall be installed. Durability. The markings required by paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this section shall be of sufficient durability to withstand the environment involved. Disconnecting means. Condition B - Exposed live parts on one side and grounded parts on the other side. Where a pool is installed permanently at a dwelling unit, at least one 125-volt, 15- or 20-ampere receptacle on a general-purpose branch circuit shall be located a minimum of 3.05 m (10 ft) and not more than 6.08 m (20 ft) from the inside wall of the pool. 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. Disconnecting Means. Grounding should be the last of these steps. Minimum Clearance Around Electrical Panels (Carrying 600 Volts or Less) Insufficient clearance around electrical panels is one of the many electrical hazards that can endanger worker safety. Unused openings in boxes, raceways, auxiliary gutters, cabinets, equipment cases, or housings shall be effectively closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment. The type of enclosure used in a given case shall be designed and constructed according to the hazards associated with the installation. This means that you cannot leave an area around the electrical panel that is clear, but have access to the area blocked off by stacks of boxes or other items. On single-car and multicar installations, equipment receiving electrical power from more than one source shall be provided with a disconnecting means for each source of electrical power. Working space is not required in back of assemblies such as dead-front switchboards or motor control centers where there are 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. All Rights Re This paragraph applies to the installation of the electrical components and accessory equipment of electrolytic cells, electrolytic cell lines, and process power supply for the production of aluminum, cadmium, chlorine, copper, fluorine, hydrogen peroxide, magnesium, sodium, sodium chlorate, and zinc. Visit the Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution Standard Page The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is a part of the U.S. Department of Labor that makes workplace clearance requirements to help ensure the safety and health of employees. Wooden plugs driven into holes in masonry, concrete, plaster, or similar materials shall not be used. Working space required by this subpart shall not be used for storage. This letter constitutes OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed. What About NFPA 70e Electrical Panel Clearance? 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. The following requirements apply to outdoor enclosed equipment accessible to unqualified employees: Ventilating or similar openings in equipment shall be so designed that foreign objects inserted through these openings will be deflected from energized parts; Where exposed to physical damage from vehicular traffic, suitable guards shall be provided; Nonmetallic or metal-enclosed equipment located outdoors and accessible to the general public shall be designed so that exposed nuts or bolts cannot be readily removed, permitting access to live parts; Where nonmetallic or metal-enclosed equipment is accessible to the general public and the bottom of the enclosure is less than 2.44 m (8.0 ft) above the floor or grade level, the enclosure door or hinged cover shall be kept locked; and. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Outreach Training Program (10- and 30-hour Cards), OSHA Training Institute Education Centers, Severe Storm and Flood Recovery Assistance. A fence may not be less than 2.13 m (7.0 ft) in height or a combination of 1.80 m (6.0 ft) or more of fence fabric and a 305-mm (1-ft) or more extension utilizing three or more strands of barbed wire or equivalent. Our interpretations letters explain the requirements, and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they can not create additional employer obligations. One of the easiest and most effective ways to make sure that nobody places anything in the area around your electrical panels is to mark the area with floor marking tape. Open disconnecting devices before tagging. Where paralleled sets of current-carrying single-pole separable connectors are provided as input devices, they shall be prominently labeled with a warning indicating the presence of internal parallel connections. Scenario: Workplace motor control centers have boxes with 480 volts disconnects and 110 volt control power with the same box. Interrupting rating. Switches operated by foot pressure shall be provided with a shield over the contact button to avoid accidental closing of the switch. All temporary lamps for general illumination shall be protected from accidental breakage by a suitable fixture or lampholder with a guard. The workspace shall be adequate to permit at least a 90-degree opening of doors or hinged panels. Conductors and equipment used on circuits exceeding 600 volts, nominal, shall comply with all applicable provisions of paragraphs (a) through (g) of this section and with the following provisions which supplement or modify those requirements. Hoses shall be of a nonconductive material. Electrolytic cells, cell line conductors, cell line attachments, and the wiring of auxiliary equipment and devices within the cell line working zone need not comply with the provisions of 1910.303 or 1910.304(b) and (c). Soldered splices shall first be spliced or joined to be mechanically and electrically secure without solder and then soldered. Application. 4. All circuits supplied from the secondaries shall be ungrounded and shall have an approved overcurrent device of proper rating in each conductor. (150 mm) When it is necessary to perform work on energized equipment, OSHA 1910.333 (a) (2) requires safety-related work practices to be used and NFPA 70E Article 110.8 (B) (1) requires an Electrical Hazard Analysis before work is performed on live equipment operating at 50 volts and higher. Except for underground box covers that weigh over 45.4 kg (100 lb), doors and covers of enclosures used solely as pull boxes, splice boxes, or junction boxes shall be locked, bolted, or screwed on. Where doors are used giving access to voltages of over 1000 volts ac or dc, either mechanical lockouts with a disconnecting means to prevent access until circuit parts within the cubicle are deenergized, or both door interlocking and mechanical door locks, shall be provided. 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. 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. For indoor installation, the dedicated space shall comply with the following: The space equal to the width and depth of the equipment and extending from the floor to a height of 1.83 m (6.0 ft) above the equipment or to the structural ceiling, whichever is lower, shall be dedicated to the electrical installation. Mounting. Panels with 151 to 600 volts should have 42 of clearance around it. A new section, 450.14, requires a disconnecting means for most transformers. Grouping. The following requirements apply to indoor installations that are accessible to other than qualified persons: The installations shall be made with metal-enclosed equipment or shall be enclosed in a vault or in an area to which access is controlled by a lock; Metal-enclosed switchgear, unit substations, transformers, pull boxes, connection boxes, and other similar associated equipment shall be marked with appropriate caution signs; and. Assuming you meant "while energized": Readily accessible and operable from the ground or floor level; Arranged to be locked in the open position; and. 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. No provision may be made to close this disconnecting means automatically (that is, power may only be restored by manual means). President, Safety Specialties Incorporated With these tools, floor marking for electrical panel compliance can be accomplished without spending too much on time or effort. 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. Eight (8) to ten (10) hours of start-up time could be required to re-load processing bins, fluidizing lines and processing transitions. The following requirements apply to industrial and commercial laboratory equipment. Arcing parts. The use of single-pole separable connectors shall comply with at least one of the following conditions: Connection and disconnection of connectors are only possible where the supply connectors are interlocked to the source and it is not possible to connect or disconnect connectors when the supply is energized; or. The disconnecting means shall be a listed device. Concrete, brick, and tile walls are considered as grounded surfaces. A warning sign shall be mounted on or next to the disconnecting means where multiple disconnecting means are used and parts of the controllers remain energized from a source other than the one disconnected. Open position included in the supply circuit and then soldered similar materials shall not be grounded shall! Equipment is free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees,. 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