110.26(A)(6) Grade, Floor, or Working Platform.
Code Change Summary: A new code section was added regarding a proper grade, floor, or working platform.
For years, many electrical inspectors have asked for the grade, floor or platform in the required equipment working space to be level. Providing an NEC® code reference to back up the request would have been impossible.
During the 1999 NEC® development process, a proposal was rejected to require a level surface. The code making panel felt that it would be impracticable to require all floors or platforms to be level for several reasons; one of which is that some floors or grades are intentionally sloped to allow for drainage.
The only mention of the words “grade”, “floor”, or “platform” for the work space in past editions of the NEC® has been in Section 110.26(A)(3), and the context the words are used in is for measuring the height of the required working space. This section doesn’t actually describe the characteristics of the grade, floor, or platform itself, or even require a grade, floor, or platform in mandatory code language.
In the 2023 NEC®, things have changed and now the grade floor or platform in the required working space must be as level and flat as practical for the entire depth and width required of the working space. A similar change occurred in Section 110.34(A) for installations over 1000 volts.
This aligns with other codes that have required a level surface for years.
Section M1305.1 in the International Residential Code requires a level working space not less than 30 inches deep and 30 inches wide in front of the control side for servicing of mechanical appliances such as an air conditioner.
Likewise, Section 306.1 in the International Mechanical Code requires a level working space not less than 30 inches deep and 30 inches wide to be provided in front of the control side to service a mechanical appliance.
Below is a preview of the NEC®. See the actual NEC® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the 2023 NEC® edition of NFPA 70.
2020 Code Language:
This code section did not exist.
2023 Code Language:
N 110.26(A)(6) Grade, Floor, or Working Platform. The grade, floor, or platform in the required working space shall be kept clear, and the floor, grade, or platform in the working space shall be as level and flat as practical for the entire required depth and width of the working space.