NEC 110.32: Work Space About Equipment

Or "Stop Using the Switchgear Room as Your Personal Storage Unit, Gary"

The Plain-Language Truth

Listen up, sparkies. Section 110.32 is the Code's way of saying: "Give yourself enough room so you don't become a crispy critter when something goes sideways." This is about medium and high-voltage equipment (over 1,000 volts) — the stuff that doesn't just bite, it devours.

Here's the deal in words your helper can understand:

You need actual workspace around your big, scary electrical gear. Not "kinda sorta room if you suck in your gut" space. Real, functional, "I can swing a panel door open and not knock over someone's lunch cooler" space.

The minimum dimensions:

Height: At least 6½ feet from the floor. Because you're not a hobbit, and neither is the next electrician who has to work on this beast.
Width: Either 3 feet OR the width of the equipment — whichever is GREATER. Got a 5-foot-wide transformer? You need 5 feet of clearance, not 3. The Code isn't asking; it's telling.
Depth: Check out 110.34(A) for the gory details (spoiler: it depends on voltage and whether you've got exposed live parts staring at you like angry hornets).

Doors and panels need to swing open at least 90 degrees. Not 89 degrees. Not "close enough." Ninety. Because when the arc flash relay trips and you need to GTFO yesterday, that door better open all the way. Physics doesn't negotiate.

The 6-inch rule: Other associated electrical equipment (think cable trays, conduit, junction boxes) can stick out a maximum of 6 inches into your workspace. Anything more? No bueno. The inspector will make you move it, and you'll hate your life.

NO STORAGE. I don't care if it's just "temporary." I don't care if it's "just for today." NO. STORAGE. Your work space is not a warehouse for leftover PVC, Jim's toolbox, or that pallet of fixtures "waiting for installation." Get it out.

Guarding exposed live parts: If you're doing service work and energized parts are exposed in a hallway or open area where some clueless intern might wander by, you better guard that area. Caution tape, barriers, a 300-pound foreman standing guard — whatever it takes.

Key Takeaways (The Stuff You Better Remember)

✅ Minimum clearance for medium/high-voltage equipment:

6½ ft high minimum
3 ft wide OR the equipment width (whichever is greater)
Depth per 110.34(A) (voltage-dependent)

✅ Doors and hinged panels must open at least 90 degrees — no exceptions

✅ Other electrical equipment can extend 6 inches MAX into the required workspace

✅ Absolutely NO storage in the required working space — not even "just for a minute"

✅ Guard exposed live parts during service if they're in public/passageway areas

Real-World Jobsite Scenarios (AKA "Learn from Others' Mistakes")

Scenario 1: The Medium-Voltage Closet of Doom

You walk into a utility room at a hospital and find a 13.8kV switchgear lineup crammed into a room that technically meets code dimensions... except the facility guys have stacked 47 boxes of copy paper, a broken office chair, and what appears to be a decorative ficus tree in front of it.

Why this matters: When the utility relay trips at 2 AM and you need to restore power to the ICU, you're not going to have time for an episode of "Storage Wars." You need immediate, unobstructed access. Plus, paper + electrical arc = fire. And nobody wants to explain that to the fire marshal.

Code violation: 110.32 clearly states working space shall NOT be used for storage. Clear it out, document it with photos, and send the invoice to facilities.

Scenario 2: The Door That Doesn't

You're doing a final inspection on a new data center. Beautiful 15kV gear, millions of dollars in equipment. The inspector walks up, tries to open the hinged panel on the switchgear, and it hits the wall at 75 degrees.

Why this matters: Inspector fails you on the spot. Now you're tearing out drywall or relocating gear because someone didn't measure properly during the layout phase. That 90-degree opening isn't a suggestion — it's the minimum safe egress requirement. You need full access when you're working hot or troubleshooting.

Code violation: Doors/panels must open 90 degrees minimum per 110.32. Measure twice, install once.

Scenario 3: The Cable Tray Creep

You inherit a job from another contractor. The 4160V lineup looks good... until you notice the cable tray above it extends 10 inches over the front of the gear. "It's been like that for years," says the plant engineer.

Why this matters: That extra 4 inches (beyond the allowed 6) means you're working with reduced headroom and increased risk of contact with overhead cables during maintenance. When you're pulling a breaker or troubleshooting, you need that space.

Code violation: 110.32 allows 6 inches MAX of encroachment. Get a scissor lift and relocate that tray before someone gets hurt (or the inspector shows up).

Scenario 4: The Hallway Horror Show

You're doing emergency service work on a pad-mount transformer in a basement electrical room. Problem is, the door to the room is wide open, and it's right off a main hallway where employees walk by constantly. You've got the cover off and 7,200 volts are waving hello.

Why this matters: Some well-meaning but clueless office worker could walk by, see you "fixing something," and decide to lean in for a closer look. Next thing you know, you're doing CPR and explaining to OSHA why you didn't guard the area.

Code compliance: 110.32 requires you to "suitably guard" exposed live parts in passageways. Barrier tape, cones, signage, locked doors, a helper stationed outside — whatever keeps untrained personnel away from the danger zone.

What to Study (Master/Journeyman Exam Focus)

If you're taking your exam, the testers LOVE this section. Here's what shows up most:

🎯 Minimum height requirement: 6½ feet (2.0 m) — they'll try to trick you with 6 feet

🎯 Width requirement: 3 feet OR equipment width, WHICHEVER IS GREATER (they love this one)

🎯 The 6-inch encroachment rule — know that other associated equipment can only extend 6 inches into workspace

🎯 90-degree door opening requirement — memorize this; it's a gimme question

🎯 "NO STORAGE" rule — easiest question you'll see, but know it applies to REQUIRED working space

🎯 Cross-reference to 110.34(A) for depth requirements — you might need to calculate working clearance based on voltage and conditions

🎯 Guarding requirements for exposed live parts in passageways

Pro exam tip: They'll often give you a scenario question with specific equipment dimensions and ask if the installation is compliant. Know how to apply "whichever is greater" logic, and you'll nail it.

The Bottom Line

Think of 110.32 as the electrical equivalent of "give me some breathing room." When you're working on equipment that could turn you into a July 4th sparkler, you need space to work safely, egress quickly if things go wrong, and operate doors/panels without doing CrossFit-level contortions.

Remember: This section applies to medium and high-voltage installations (over 1,000V). For your everyday 480V and below, see 110.26 instead — similar concept, different specific requirements.

Now get out there, clear Gary's extension ladder out of the electrical room, and give yourself the workspace the Code — and your future self — demands.

Stay safe, stay legal, and for the love of all that's holy, stop storing paint cans in front of the switchgear.