Door width for utility room

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Kevin Cain

Member
Location
California
Occupation
Computer programmer
For an electrical panel room with exterior entry, what width door is required by code in California?

As noted here the NEC door width requirement for ‘equipment rated 1,200A or more’ is 24” x 78”:
“Per 110.26(C)(1), you must provide at least one entrance of a sufficient area to give access to the workspace around electrical equipment. Check with the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) for the local definition of sufficient area.“

In our case, this is a 200A panel for a residence, NOT 'large equipment'. It seems the width minimum would be 24" as above, as it would be odd to require a wider opening for lower amperage gear. However, is there any resource to confirm that?
 
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acin

Senior Member
Location
pacific grove california
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general building contractor est.1984 . C 10 elec. lic.as of 8 / 7/ 2020
If the door can open 180 degrees you will only have 23 inch opening because of door the door stops on the jamb
 

Kevin Cain

Member
Location
California
Occupation
Computer programmer
Good point @acin, and thanks @tom baker for the definitive reply. The Planning Dept. for this project (Yucca Valley, CA) raised the issue, suggesting a 24" wide access door "may not comply with the Electrical Code for access to electrical equipment.”.

If you can provide a definitive code citation, of course that would be very welcome for our inspections. Thanks again.
 

Fred B

Senior Member
Location
Upstate, NY
Occupation
Electrician
IBC 1006.2.2.4 Electrical rooms makes reference to requirements of NEC 110.26 that you already have referenced. Beyond the scope of NEC 110.26(C)(1), it has no comment related to egress, residential or otherwise, other than what it states for 1000V or less in referenced code section of "sufficient area". Local AHJ may make a determination as to what qualifies as "sufficient area" for doorway egress, and that can be larger than the minimum referenced in code for higher nominal voltages listed in 110.26(C)(2), it is up to them. Local code may also have requirements for fire rating ss well so really need to check with them as it is beyond scope of NEC.
Just a side note I haven't seen a "door" smaller than 24" wide. Anything smaller you will have a hard time finding an electrician willing, or able in some cases, to squeeze through. And in residential, aesthetics can more prominently come into play as well and that may call for a larger door but not a code requirement.
 

paulengr

Senior Member
NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) has egress requirements based on the space required for a firefighter in full turnout gear.
 

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
For an electrical panel room with exterior entry, what width door is required by code in California?

As noted here the NEC door width requirement for ‘equipment rated 1,200A or more’ is 24” x 78”:
“Per 110.26(C)(1), you must provide at least one entrance of a sufficient area to give access to the workspace around electrical equipment. Check with the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) for the local definition of sufficient area.“

In our case, this is a 200A panel for a residence, NOT 'large equipment'. It seems the width minimum would be 24" as above, as it would be odd to require a wider opening for lower amperage gear. However, is there any resource to confirm that?
You did ask for what is required in California, not certain what may vary from NEC in general there.

NEC wise you did state the code section that applies and it doesn't give a specific dimension for any door in egress path.

The requirement for gear 1200 amp and larger immediately follows (110.26(C)(2). Nothing else in NEC addresses this issue.
 
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