Elevator Machine Room vs. Machine Space
- Thread starter jbt260
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What is the difference between Machine Room and Machine Space? Is there an official definition in any Code book?websparky
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- Cleveland, Ohio
Re: Elevator Machine Room vs. Machine Space
Can you be more specific...... give us an example??
Can you be more specific...... give us an example??
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- Lockport, IL
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- Retired Electrical Engineer
Re: Elevator Machine Room vs. Machine Space
It sounds like you are talking about elevators (Article 620). What I think that 620 is saying that there are two types of ?stuff? that combine to make the elevator go up and down. One type is the ?machinery,? such as hydraulic pumps, actuators, motors, and cable reels. The other type is the ?controls,? such as logic cabinets, relay cabinets, and local push buttons. If they are in two different rooms, the NEC is calling the two rooms a ?machinery room? and a ?control space.? If they are in the same room, the NEC is calling that room a ?control room/machinery space.? Don?t make any issues over ?space? versus ?room.? I think the only issue is that certain items (e.g., overcurrent protection devices, receptacles, and disconnecting means) have to be in one room or the other (if there are two rooms), or in the one room (if there is only one room). The real requirement is that those items cannot be in any other place.
Does this answer your question?
It sounds like you are talking about elevators (Article 620). What I think that 620 is saying that there are two types of ?stuff? that combine to make the elevator go up and down. One type is the ?machinery,? such as hydraulic pumps, actuators, motors, and cable reels. The other type is the ?controls,? such as logic cabinets, relay cabinets, and local push buttons. If they are in two different rooms, the NEC is calling the two rooms a ?machinery room? and a ?control space.? If they are in the same room, the NEC is calling that room a ?control room/machinery space.? Don?t make any issues over ?space? versus ?room.? I think the only issue is that certain items (e.g., overcurrent protection devices, receptacles, and disconnecting means) have to be in one room or the other (if there are two rooms), or in the one room (if there is only one room). The real requirement is that those items cannot be in any other place.
Does this answer your question?
Re: Elevator Machine Room vs. Machine Space
In a mechanical penthouse, I have an air handler and elevator motors and controls. The elevator motor/controls are fenced off. My question is "Is the entire room considered an elevator machine room, or is just the space that's fenced off considered elevator machinery space?" I want to run conduit through the room, outside of the fenced area. What are your thoughts?
In a mechanical penthouse, I have an air handler and elevator motors and controls. The elevator motor/controls are fenced off. My question is "Is the entire room considered an elevator machine room, or is just the space that's fenced off considered elevator machinery space?" I want to run conduit through the room, outside of the fenced area. What are your thoughts?
Re: Elevator Machine Room vs. Machine Space
I believe the difference has to do with whether the building code requires a fire rated enclosure for the elevator machinery. If it required the rating then you would need a dedicated machine room. But if fire rating is not required then a machinery space would be dedicated and could be fenced off as you described.
The elevator code is very clear stating that you can not run piping thru a machine space unless it is for the elevator operation. If the AHJ allowed the AHU in ths penthouse, then I would assume that you can run a conduit outside the fenced. As always, you should check with AHJ.
For more details you refer to Safety Code for Elevators & Escalators. I believe the latest version is 2000.
I believe the difference has to do with whether the building code requires a fire rated enclosure for the elevator machinery. If it required the rating then you would need a dedicated machine room. But if fire rating is not required then a machinery space would be dedicated and could be fenced off as you described.
The elevator code is very clear stating that you can not run piping thru a machine space unless it is for the elevator operation. If the AHJ allowed the AHU in ths penthouse, then I would assume that you can run a conduit outside the fenced. As always, you should check with AHJ.
For more details you refer to Safety Code for Elevators & Escalators. I believe the latest version is 2000.
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