Code Change Summary: A clarification was made about access to and egress from the working space for electrical equipment.

SME commentary: In the 2026 NEC^® a public comment from the Electrical Training Alliance was accepted to further explain a scenario where electrical equipment doors can potentially block access to and egress from the working space.

The previous requirement in the second and third sentences of 110.26 prohibited open equipment doors from blocking access to and egress from the working space. Access or egress was considered impeded if one or more simultaneously opened equipment doors restricted working space access to be less than 24 inches wide and 6 ½ feet high. This left a gray area for equipment doors that weren’t “opened” at the moment but had the potential to be opened eventually.

In the 2026 NEC^® the revised language from 110.26 (in part) states: Open equipment doors shall not impede access to and egress from the working space. Access or egress is impeded if one or more simultaneously opened equipment doors restrict working space access to be less than 24 inches wide and 6 ½ feet high when such doors are or can be opened 90 degrees.

The intent of adding the last ten words to this section is to account for the worst case scenario where at the time of inspection, the equipment doors were closed and adequate access was provided at that moment in time, but if they ever were opened during servicing or maintenance in the future, they could potentially block the minimum required 2 foot wide by 6 ½ foot tall working space access.

Below is a preview of the NEC^®. See the actual NEC^® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the 2026 NEC^® edition of NFPA 70.

2023 Code Language:

110.26 Spaces About Electrical Equipment. Working space, and access to and egress from working space, shall be provided and maintained about all electrical equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment. Open equipment doors shall not impede access to and egress from the working space. Access or egress is impeded if one or more simultaneously opened equipment doors restrict working space access to be less than 24 inches wide and 6 ½ feet high.

2026 Code Language:

110.26 Spaces About Electrical Equipment. Working space, and access to and egress from working space, shall be provided and maintained about all electrical equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment. Open equipment doors shall not impede access to and egress from the working space. Access or egress is impeded if one or more simultaneously opened equipment doors restrict working space access to be less than 24 inches wide and 6 ½ feet high when such doors are or can be opened 90 degrees.