NEC 110.26: Working Space and Electrical Panel Clearance
For a typical home or light-commercial panel on a 120/240-V or 208Y/120-V system (150 V or less to ground): 3 ft deep in front of the panel, 30 in. wide or the panel width if wider, 6½ ft high or the equipment height, nothing stored in the space, and the dedicated space above the panel kept free of pipes and ducts.
Educational summary only. Verify against the officially adopted code and your AHJ before relying on it.
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Quick answer
For a typical home or light-commercial panel on a 120/240-V or 208Y/120-V system (150 V or less to ground): 3 ft deep in front of the panel, 30 in. wide or the panel width if wider, 6½ ft high or the equipment height, nothing stored in the space, and the dedicated space above the panel kept free of pipes and ducts. At 151 to 600 V to ground, such as 480Y/277 V, the depth is 3, 3½ or 4 ft depending on what is across from the equipment.
Minimum working space depth by nominal voltage to ground
| Nominal voltage to ground | Condition 1 | Condition 2 | Condition 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 150 V (120/240-V and 208Y/120-V systems) | 3 ft | 3 ft | 3 ft |
| 151 to 600 V (480Y/277-V systems) | 3 ft | 3½ ft | 4 ft |
| 601 to 1000 V ac (601 to 1500 V dc in 2026) | 3 ft | 4 ft | 5 ft |
Condition 1: live parts on one side, nothing live or grounded across from them (or guarded by insulation). Condition 2: live parts on one side, grounded parts across; concrete, brick and tile walls count as grounded. Condition 3: live parts on both sides. The 0 to 150 V and 151 to 600 V rows match OSHA's Table S-1 in 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1); the top row is from NFPA's 2026-cycle CMP-1 record.
Section 110.26 sets the working space in front of electrical equipment likely to need examination, adjustment, servicing or maintenance while energized: a depth of 3 to 5 ft from Table 110.26(A)(1), set by the nominal voltage to ground and what is across from the equipment (3 to 4 ft at 600 volts or less), a width of 30 in. or the equipment width, whichever is greater, and headroom of 6½ ft or the equipment height. The space must stay clear of storage, large equipment needs a second entrance, and switchboards, panelboards and similar equipment indoors also get a dedicated zone above them.
Working space gives an electrician room to stand, use tools and get out quickly while working on energized equipment. The depth comes from Table 110.26(A)(1), read by the nominal voltage to ground, not the line-to-line voltage, and by what is across from the equipment. At 0 to 150 V to ground, which covers 120/240-V and 208Y/120-V systems, every condition needs 3 ft. At 151 to 600 V to ground, such as a 480Y/277-V system, the depth is 3 ft for Condition 1, 3½ ft for Condition 2 and 4 ft for Condition 3; at 601 to 1000 V it is 3, 4 and 5 ft. The width is 30 in. or the width of the equipment, whichever is greater, with room for equipment doors and hinged panels to open at least 90 degrees. The headroom is 6½ ft or the equipment height, whichever is greater, except that in existing dwelling units, service equipment or enclosed panelboards of 200 A or less may have less headroom, and meters in meter sockets may extend beyond the other equipment. The working space may not be used for storage (110.26(B)). Large equipment of 1200 A or more and over 6 ft wide that contains overcurrent, switching or control devices needs an entrance at least 24 in. wide and 6½ ft high at each end, unless the way out is continuous and unobstructed or the depth is doubled. Where equipment of 800 A or more with those devices is installed, personnel doors less than 25 ft from the nearest edge of the working space must open in the direction of egress and have listed panic or listed fire exit hardware. Indoors, the space equal to the width and depth of switchboards, switchgear, panelboards and motor control centers, from the floor to 6 ft above the equipment or the structural ceiling, whichever is lower, is reserved for the electrical installation (110.26(E)). OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.303(g) applies the same kind of working-space requirements to employers.
When does NEC 110.26 apply?
- Installing a panel, switchboard or motor control center and checking the clearance in front of and above it
- Inspecting an existing installation where storage, shelving or building systems have crept into the working space
- Laying out an electrical room for a commercial or industrial building, including entrances and the dedicated space
- Replacing a service panel in an existing house with limited headroom
- Studying for a licensing exam, where Table 110.26(A)(1) is a common question
What are the key points of NEC 110.26?
What changed in 110.26 for the 2026 NEC
| Topic | NEC 2023 | NEC 2026 (CMP-1 second draft) |
|---|---|---|
| Where depth is measured | From exposed live parts, or from the enclosure front or opening if live parts are enclosed | From the front of the enclosure (SR-7639) |
| Voltage rows of Table 110.26(A)(1) | 0 to 150, 151 to 600 and 601 to 1000 V | Ranges marked ac or dc, with the top row 601 to 1000 V ac or 601 to 1500 V dc |
| Open equipment doors | May not impede access to or egress from the working space | Impeded means less than 24 in. wide and 6½ ft high with the doors opened 90 degrees (SR-7636) |
| Second entrance for large equipment (110.26(C)(2)) | Equipment of 1200 A or more and over 6 ft wide, and service disconnects that combine to that size | Also covers disconnects for feeders supplying a building or structure (SR-7662) |
What mistakes come up with NEC 110.26?
Using the space in front of a panel for storage, shelving or a workbench
At 151 to 600 V to ground, applying Condition 1 when the wall across is concrete, brick, tile or grounded metal: that is Condition 2 (3½ ft)
Reading the table by line-to-line voltage: it uses the nominal voltage to ground, so a 208Y/120-V panel is in the 0 to 150 V row
Measuring depth from the wall behind the panel. The 2023 NEC measures from exposed live parts or the enclosure front; the 2026 NEC measures from the front of the enclosure
Squeezing a panel into a space narrower than 30 in.: the width is 30 in. or the equipment width, whichever is greater
Installing a panelboard in a clothes closet or a dwelling bathroom: 240.24(D) and (E) keep overcurrent devices out of both
Running water pipes, ducts or other foreign systems through the dedicated space above a panelboard
Exam Tip
Memorize the table by voltage to ground: 0 to 150 V is 3 ft for every condition; 151 to 600 V is 3, 3½ and 4 ft; 601 to 1000 V is 3, 4 and 5 ft. Width is 30 in. or the equipment width; headroom is 6½ ft or the equipment height. Two entrances: 1200 A or more and over 6 ft wide. Panic or fire exit hardware: 800 A or more, doors less than 25 ft from the working space.
Exam flashcards on NEC 110.26
Question
What may the working space in front of electrical equipment not be used for?
Answer
Storage. The working space required by 110.26 has to stay clear, and 110.26(B) says it may not be used for storage.
Question
What is the minimum working space depth for equipment at 150 volts or less to ground?
Answer
3 ft, for all three conditions in Table 110.26(A)(1). That covers typical single-phase 120/240-V and 208Y/120-V panels.
Question
What working space depth does each condition need at 151 to 600 volts to ground?
Answer
Condition 1 (exposed live parts on one side, nothing live or grounded on the other): 3 ft. Condition 2 (live parts on one side, grounded parts such as a concrete wall on the other): 3½ ft. Condition 3 (live parts on both sides): 4 ft. A 480Y/277-V system is in this range.
Question
How wide and how high does the working space have to be?
Answer
At least 30 in. wide, or as wide as the equipment if that is wider (110.26(A)(2)), and at least 6½ ft high, or as tall as the equipment if that is taller (110.26(A)(3)).
Question
When does a working space need an entrance at each end?
Answer
When equipment with overcurrent, switching or control devices is rated 1200 A or more and is over 6 ft wide (110.26(C)(2)). Each entrance must be at least 24 in. wide and 6½ ft high. One entrance is enough if the way out is continuous and unobstructed or the working space depth is doubled.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a panel on a 120/240-V or 208Y/120-V system, which is 150 V or less to ground: at least 3 ft of depth in front of the panel, 30 in. of width or the panel width if wider, and 6½ ft of headroom. Panels at 151 to 600 V to ground need 3 to 4 ft depending on what is across from them.
Condition 1: live parts on one side and nothing live or grounded on the other, or both sides guarded by insulation. Condition 2: live parts on one side and grounded parts on the other; concrete, brick and tile walls count as grounded. Condition 3: live parts on both sides. At 0 to 150 V to ground all three need 3 ft; above 150 V the depth increases with the condition.
Not in a clothes closet: 240.24(D) keeps overcurrent devices away from easily ignitible material such as clothes closets, and 240.24(E) keeps them out of dwelling bathrooms. A dedicated electrical or utility closet can work only if it gives the full working space (30 in. or the panel width, the Table 110.26(A)(1) depth and 6½ ft of headroom), is not used for storage and keeps the dedicated space above the panel clear.
Yes. 110.26 applies to equipment likely to be examined, adjusted, serviced or maintained while energized, including dwelling panels, and the working space must be kept clear and not used for storage. Whether a parked vehicle violates that is the inspector's call, so place the panel where vehicles will not sit in the space.
According to NFPA's 2026-cycle committee record: depth is measured from the front of the enclosure, open equipment doors may not leave less than a 24 in. by 6½ ft path, the two-entrance rule also covers disconnects for feeders supplying a building, and the table lists ac and dc ranges up to 1500 V dc. Confirm the final wording in the published edition.
Related Code Sections
Sources
Checked against these sources on .
- NFPA 70 2026 cycle, CMP-1 second draft (110.14(C)(1); 110.26 and Table 110.26(A)(1)) (NFPA)
- 29 CFR 1910.303(g), Space about electric equipment (Table S-1) (OSHA)
- Electrical inspection checklist for one-family dwellings (2026 NEC) (Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry)
- Free access to NFPA codes and standards (NFPA)
- Working Space Requirements for Electrical Panelboards (IAEI Magazine (Joseph Wages Jr.), 2020-07)
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