NEC 110.26(D)

NEC 110.26(A)(1)

NEC requires a minimum of 36 inches of clear working space in front of electrical panels for safe access and operation.

NEC 110.26(A)(1) / 110.26(A)(3)

This installation fails on multiple counts. NEC 110.26(A)(1) requires a minimum depth of 36 inches of clear working space measured from the exposed live parts or the front of the enclosure. With only 28 inches between the panel and the water heater, this is 8 inches short of the 36-inch minimum. Even the 30-inch width measurement is at the bare minimum per NEC 110.26(A)(2). Additionally, NEC 110.26(A)(3) requires the working space to extend from the floor to a height of 6 feet 6 inches or the height of the equipment, whichever is greater. IBEW training emphasizes that working clearance violations are the most commonly cited NEC violation on inspections — an electrician needs room to safely operate breakers and escape in an emergency.

NEC 110.26(A)(2)

Working-space width must be at least 762 mm (30 in.) OR the full width of the equipment, whichever is greater. A 1200A switchboard section is wider than 30 in., so 30 in. of clear width does not span the equipment and is insufficient. (There is no amperage-based 36-in. width rule — 36 in. is the Condition-1 working-space depth.)

NEC 110.27 / NFPA 70E

Battery cabinets must remain closed to prevent accidental contact with live DC bus bars and to contain any thermal event. Open cabinets also violate NEC 110.27 regarding guarding of live parts and create arc flash hazards.

NEC 210.11(C)(3)

NEC 210.11(C)(3) requires at least one 20A branch circuit to supply bathroom receptacle outlets. This circuit is permitted to supply receptacles in multiple bathrooms. The key restriction is that no other outlets (lights, exhaust fans, etc.) from other rooms can be on this circuit — it must serve only bathroom receptacles. GFCI protection is separately required by NEC 210.8(A)(1).

NEC 210.12(A)

This installation is fully code-compliant. NEC 210.12(A) requires AFCI protection for all 120V, 15A and 20A branch circuits supplying outlets and devices in dwelling unit bedrooms. A 15A combination-type AFCI breaker with 14 AWG wiring is correctly matched (NEC Table 310.16 rates 14 AWG at 15A). Tamper-resistant receptacles are required per NEC 406.12 in all dwelling unit locations. This is a textbook installation that IBEW halls use as a baseline example of proper bedroom circuit design.