Overview

With the increasing need for more and more computing power, modular data centers are becoming more prevalent as time progresses. Modular data centers provide a portable means for deploying datacenter capacity. They typicallyinclude all of the necessary computing equipment, and a door for personnel to access the equipment. The 2023 NEC has updated the requirements for this door in Section 646.19. The new language has been put in place to ensure that personnel are able to quickly evacuate the modular cell in the event of equipment malfunction. This will increase worker safety, and help to prevent any serious injuries.

Applying the 2023 Code

The 2023 NEC has revised Section 646.19, which covers the entrance to, and egress from, working spaces associated with modular data centers. Modular data centers typically include a door for personnel egress, and were previously required to open in the direction of egress. The 2023 NEC now changes this requirement by specifying that the door should open to the full extent of their designed egress opening. The previous requirement for the doors to be provided with listed panic or fire exit hardware are still in place. The reason for this change was that the previous code only addressed doors of the “swinging” type. Doors that slide on tracks were not covered. These new requirements now address doors of all types, and help to ensure that personnel are able to quickly exit the modular data center in the event of an emergency, and prevent serious injuries, or even death.

What’s New for the 2023 NEC?

2020 NEC

In the 2020 NEC Section 646.19 read as follows:

646.19 Entrance to and Egress from Working Space.

For equipment over 1.8 m (6 ft) wide or deep, there shall be one entrance to and egress from the required working space not less than 610 mm (24 in.) wide and 2.0 m (6 1⁄2 ft) high at each end of the working space. Doors shall open in the direction of egress and be equipped with listed panic hardware or listed fire exit hardware. A single entrance to and egress from the required working space shall be permitted where either of the conditions in 646.19(A) or (B) is met.

2023 NEC

 In the 2023 NEC Section 646.19 read as follows:

646.19 Entrance to and Egress from Working Space.

For equipment over 1.8 m (6 ft) wide or deep, there shall be one entrance to and egress from the required working space not less than 610 mm (24 in.) wide and 2.0 m (6 1⁄2 ft) high at each end of the working space. Doors shall open to the full extent of their designed egress opening and be equipped with listed panic hardware or listed fire exit hardware. A single entrance to and egress from the required working space shall be permitted where either of the conditions in 646.19(A) or (B) is met.