110.26(C)(3) Entrance to and Egress from Working Space. Personnel Doors.

Equipment rated over 800 amps and containing overcurrent devices is located on each side of the door and the door is within 25 ft. of the workspace on both sides. All equipment is rated over 800 amps. Can you identify the problem? Over $30,000 was spent to fix the problem before the job was able to pass final inspection. Can you think of some solutions?
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Equipment rated over 800 amps and containing overcurrent devices is located on each side of the door and the door is within 25 ft. of the workspace on both sides. All equipment is rated over 800 amps. Can you identify the problem? Over $30,000 was spent to fix the problem before the job was able to pass final inspection. Can you think of some solutions?

Code Change Summary: Changes were made regarding when egress doors must open in the direction of travel and be equipped with panic hardware.

Once it has been determined that working space is required for electrical equipment rated 600 volts or less, the next step is to address any personnel doors that are used for entrance to and egress from the required workspace.

A few questions must be answered to determine if an electrical room door needs to open in the direction of egress and have panic hardware.

  1. Is there electrical equipment in the room, rated 800 amps or more, that contains overcurrent devices, switching devices, or control devices?
  2. Is there a door used for entrance to and egress from the electrical room? (interior storage closets inside the room do not qualify).
  3. If the answer to 1 and 2 is yes, is the door within 25 ft. of the equipment’s working space?
  4. If the answer to 1, 2, and 3 is yes, then the door must open out in the direction of egress and have listed panic hardware.

The previous code language pertaining to the egress doors was based on equipment rated 1,200 amps or more and required panic bars, pressure plates, or other devices that are normally latched but open under simple pressure. There was confusion as to what was considered a pressure plate and what could be considered openable under simple pressure. Now only listed panic hardware is mentioned.

Below is a preview of the NEC®.  See the actual NEC® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on the “free access” tab and select the applicable year of NFPA 70 (National Electrical code).

2011 Code Language:

110.26(C)(3) Personnel Doors. Where equipment rated 1200 A or more that contains overcurrent devices, switching devices, or control devices is installed and there is a personnel door(s) intended for entrance to and egress from the working space less than 7.6 m (25 ft) from the nearest edge of the working space, the door(s) shall open in the direction of egress and be equipped with panic bars, pressure plates, or other devices that are normally latched but open under simple pressure.

2014 Code Language:

110.26(C)(3) Personnel Doors. Where equipment rated 800 A or more that contains overcurrent devices, switching devices, or control devices is installed and there is a personnel door(s) intended for entrance to and egress from the working space less than 7.6 m (25 ft) from the nearest edge of the working space, the door(s) shall open in the direction of egress and be equipped with listed panic hardware.

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110.26(C)(3) Entrance to and Egress from Working Space. Personnel Doors.

Below is a Real Question from our Electrical Continuing Education Courses for Electrical License Renewal:

Which of the following exit doors to an electrical room containing a 480-volt, 800 amp panelboard requires listed panic hardware?

A: An exit door located 28 feet from the equipment’s workspace.
B: An exit door located 30 feet from the equipment’s workspace.
C: An exit door located 26 feet from the equipment’s workspace
D: An exit door located 20 feet from the equipment’s workspace.
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