Working Space Requirements for Electrical Panelboards

Working Space Requirements for Electrical Panelboards

Most electricians, as well as homeowners, have needed to visit the electrical panelboard in order to reset or turn off a circuit breaker. Most electricians have a keen understanding of the National Electric Code (NEC) and the requirements in this safety document. But not many homeowners or other individuals not associated with the electrical profession know this document even exists.

So, with that being said, how do we as electrical professionals assure that electrical panelboards maintain the necessary working space requirements? How do we as electrical professionals promote the need for this electrical working space so that this equipment remains readily accessible to the occupant or electrical contractor? Some of you are smiling right now, asking another question — “Can this ever be achieved in the first place?”

This is a brief article about electrical working space requirements that exist in many of the locations we live and work. It will provide several photos, some compliant and some not so compliant, showing what can happen when electrical code requirements are not adhered to. If there is an electrical panelboard at your facility, there is a need for electrical working space.

The Struggle Is Real!

How many times have you been off the clock and casually eating at a restaurant or walking around a shopping center, and the “electrician or electrical inspector” in you comes out? You can’t help but notice an electrical Codeviolation. My wife used to get really upset when this happened. But today, she has become used to it. She would often remark, “You can never just turn off being an electrician or an electrical inspector, can you!”

I used to feel bad when she called me out for this behavior, but I have come to realize that electrical safety has no timeclock or regular work hours.  It is an ongoing struggle to maintain electrical safety in the cities and jurisdictions we live in.

The following page contains a collage of several electrical panelboard locations and what can happen when owners and occupants of facilities do not understand working space requirements. I am sure that you have seen much worse during your time as an electrical professional.

Photo 1. Working space for panelboards with signage and floor marking.
Photo 1. Working space for panelboards with signage and floor marking.

 

The National Electric Code Requirements

Let’s start by defining what we are going to discuss and what we are not going to discuss. All types of electrical equipment require some type of working space. This particular article will cover the three space requirements that comprise working space in front of the electrical panelboard. Another space that exists is referred to as dedicated electrical space, but I will save this for a future article.

Section 110.26 in the 2020 NEC is entitled Spaces About Electrical Equipment and outlines the three areas of working space discussed in this article. These include: the depth of the working space at 110.26(A)(1); the width of the working space at 110.26(A)(2); and the height of the working space at 110.26(A)(3). Review Section 110.26 for additional requirements.

One of the best explanations of the dimensions of this space that I have heard has been advanced by IAEI’sKeith Lofland during many of his electrical seminars. This space can be visualized as the space of an empty refrigerator box set in front of the panelboard. This “cardboard box” contains depth, width, and height very similar to what the NEC is trying to explain to the user of the Code.  Figure 1 below helps to show these various spaces.

Figure 1. Working space depth, width, and height.
Figure 1. Working space depth, width, and height.

 

Figure 2. Working space table 110.26(A)(1)
Figure 2. Working space table 110.26(A)(1)

 

Depth Of Working Space

The depth of working space will vary at the panelboard due to the nominal voltage that is available. NEC Table 110.26(A)(1), Working Spaces, is a very useful table that details these measurements (see figure 2). The “Conditions” located beneath the table are very informative in order to apply the requirements properly.  Figures 3, 4, and 5 are also very beneficial towards your understanding of these working space depths.

 

Figure 3.  Condition 1 working space requirements and nominal voltages that apply.
Figure 3.  Condition 1 working space requirements and nominal voltages that apply.

 

Figures 4, 4a, and 4b.  Condition 2 working space requirements and nominal voltages that apply.
Figures 4, 4a, and 4b.  Condition 2 working space requirements and nominal voltages that apply.

 

Photo 5. Previous working space violations at the International Office of IAEI.
Photo 5. Previous working space violations at the International Office of IAEI.
Joseph Wages, Jr.
Joseph Wages, Jr., is the Director of Education with IAEI. Previously he held the positions of Technical Advisor, Education, Codes and Standards and Seminar Coordinator at IAEI. He represented IAEI on NFPA’s NEC Code Making Panel-14 for the 2026 NEC. He previously represented IAEI on NFPA’s NEC Code Making Panel-2 for the 2020 and 2023 NEC code cycles and NFPA’s NEC Code Making Panel-3 for the 2014 and 2017 NEC. He serves on the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Electrical Council and on several UL Technical Standard Panels. Joseph continues to hold state electrical licenses and several IAEI and ICC building related certifications.