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Post by breckjensen on Oct 23, 2017 7:35:29 GMT -8
It's a common practice in our plant to store electrical spare parts in the bottom of control cabinet enclosures. They're not in the way and don't interfere with troubleshooting the cabinet. I've been told that this practice is a violation of NEC, but I can't find it anywhere in NEC or in NFPA 79. Or on Mike Holt's site (I'm not a member there). Is this a code violation? If so, what section?
I didn't find the right solution from the internet.
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Post by Admin on Oct 23, 2017 11:11:48 GMT -8
They are no doubt referring to 110.26(B) “Clear Spaces.” The first sentence states the working space required by this section shall not be used for storage.
OSHA - Clear Spaces
(WORKING SPACE ABOUT ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT)
"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."
Also it is a general best practice to avoid storing spare parts, rags, etc., near the high-voltage equipment. (In addtion to inventorying and accessing spare parts safely, would make storing in electrical cabinate a bad practice.)
Thinking out of the box (no pun intended), storing spare parts in electrical cabinet is not what it was designed for, and may block air cooling flow, for example. If panel was to experience shake like fork lift hitting or earthquake, lose stored spare parts could move around and cause a short or fire. If it is a mechanical part stored in cabinet, mechanic may access without first following LOTO. What I am getting at is, one may not understand all the deep thinking behind NEC code, but should follow regardless.
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