National Electrical Code (NEC) 110.26(C)(3) requirements, which cover means of egress from electrical equipment rooms, used to be straightforward. However, two major changes to this section in the 2014 NEC involve panic hardware and the ampere (A) threshold level of the electrical equipment in equipment rooms, and they are a bit complicated.


The original text concerning panic hardware and doors was inserted into the 2002 NEC in 110.26(C)(2). It required doors to open in the direction of the egress means, and the requirements applied where electrical equipment was rated at 1,200A or more, containing overcurrent devices, switching devices or control devices. The 2002 NEC text covered large equipment rated at 1,200A or more, equipment over 6 feet wide, and locations where the equipment room entrance has personnel door(s). The doors shall open in the direction of egress and be equipped with panic bars, pressure plates or other devices that are normally latched but open under simple pressure.


This subsection’s intent was to address concerns for personnel safety where an arc flash and arc blast could occur, and where an electrician or maintenance person would need to exit the area to escape temperatures of up to 35,000°F, vaporized metals and high-energy arc blasts that occur during an arc flash event. 


In the 2008 NEC, the text covering personnel doors was moved from 110.26(C)(2) to 110.26(C)(3). This new subsection applied to 1,200A-or-more equipment containing overcurrent devices, switching devices or control devices. However, the requirement to apply to equipment rated over 6 feet wide was not moved into this new subsection, so the requirement applied to any equipment rated 1,200A or more of any width. The issue still concerned personnel safety and addressed all large equipment where an arcing event could cause burns and other injuries, but it emphasized the capabilities of escaping the area even when badly burned. 


The 2008 NEC also expanded the requirement to cover doors within 25 feet from the nearest working space edge in front of the electrical equipment. This change could involve more than one door in the direction of egress (e.g., the primary door of egress and an additional door that is located within 25 feet of the work space) and would be required to have panic bars, pressure plates or other devices that are latched but will open under simple pressure.


For the 2014 NEC, the phrase “panic bars, pressure plates or other devices that are normally latched but open under simple pressure” was changed to simply “listed panic hardware,” and the “1,200 ampere or more equipment” application was changed to “800 ampere or more equipment.” The substantiation for changing from “1,200 ampere or more” to “800 ampere or more” stated that serious injuries and fatalities can and have occurred at well below the 1,200A level, so reducing the value is a positive move toward safety.


Electrical equipment rooms are “getting smaller as building owners want every square foot of space for other reasons. It is common to see equipment rooms 100 square feet and smaller in size with equipment rated at 800 amperes and with doors that open into the rooms. In a fault event, workers are exposed to serious arc flash/blast levels and these spaces fill instantly with toxic gas.”


Replacing the laundry list of panic bars and similar equipment with “listed panic hardware” ensures the hardware listing will result in door manufacturers ordering and installing panic hardware that complies with UL 305, The Standard for Safety for Panic Hardware. The scope of UL 305 states, “These requirements cover releasing devices, such as panic hardware, fire exit hardware and exit locks, that are actuated by an actuating bar (crossbar or push pad) or actuating paddle for outward-opening doors, designed to facilitate the egress of persons from buildings in the event of panic or other emergency.” 


In addition, this standard states, “The actuating bar, also called the push pad or cross bar, shall extend across not less than one half of the width of the door leaf. Balanced doors with panic hardware shall have push-pad type panics, and the pad shall not extend more than one-half the width of the door measured from the latch side. Refer to local building codes for location and length of activating bar or pads.” 


Apply these requirements to installations where an arcing event could involve personnel working on sizable electrical equipment.