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Measuring electrical panel work space

Summary A company asked whether an electrical panel placed 30 inches from a conveyor met the work-space rule. OSHA said the cited electrical code measured the distance from the front of an enclosed panel, and the submitted drawing appeared to comply. OSHA archives the letter.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1979-07-26
Date issued
July 26, 1979
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 Electrical Safety Working Clearance
Source
View the official document

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OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
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NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

July 26, 1979

Mr. John Schreiner
Executive Vice President
Vacuum Instrument Corporation
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Schreiner:

This is in response to your recent inquiry to Donald Shay requesting an opinion concerning the installation of electrical equipment.

Section 110-16(a) of the 1971 National Electric Code (NEC) requires the work space shall be at least 30 inches wide in front of the electrical equipment. Distances are to be measured from the live parts, if such are exposed or from the enclosure front or opening when such are enclosed.

The electrical equipment installed as indicated on the drawing identified as sheet #1 measuring 30 inches from the enclosed front of the panel to the conveyor, appears to comply with the intent of 29 CFR 1910.309 which references the 1971 NEC.

I hope this information will be helpful to you. If I may be of any further assistance, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,
Grover C. Wrenn Director,
Federal Compliance
and State Programs

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