Tankless water heater clearance to hydro panel?

[harshal]

How much distance should be kept when installing the tankless from the ele panel as per the electrical code in ontario and any reference?

[Admin]

In Ontario we would follow the Electrical Safety Code Rule 2-308, 2-310, 2-312.

2-308 Working space around electrical equipment

(1) A minimum working space of 1 m with secure footing shall be provided and maintained about electrical equipment such as switchboards, panelboards, control panels, and motor control centres that are enclosed in metal, except that working space is not required behind such equipment where there are no renewable parts such as fuses or switches on the back and where all connections are accessible from locations other than the back.

(2) The space referred to in Subrule (1) shall be in addition to the space required for the operation of drawout-type equipment in either the connected, test, or fully disconnected position and shall be sufficient for the opening of enclosure doors and hinged panels to at least 90°.

(3) Working space with secure footing not less than that specified in Table 56 shall be provided and maintained around electrical equipment such as switchboards, control panels, and motor control centres having exposed live parts.

(4) The minimum headroom of working spaces around switchboards or motor control centres where bare live parts are exposed at any time shall be 2.2 m.

2-310 Entrance to, and exit from, working space (see Appendices B, G, and I)

(1) Each room containing electrical equipment and each working space around equipment shall have
unobstructed means of egress in compliance with the National Building Code of Canada.

(2) Where a room or space referred to in Subrule (1) contains equipment that is rated 1200 A or more, or rated over 750 V, and consists of transformers, overcurrent devices, switchgear, or disconnecting means, such equipment shall be arranged so that, in the event of a failure in the equipment, it shall be possible to leave the room or space referred to in Subrule (1) without passing the failure point, except that where this cannot be done, the working space requirement of Rule 2-308(1) and (2) shall be not less than 1.5 m.

(3) For the purposes of Subrule (2), the potential failure point is any point within or on the equipment.

(4) Doors or gates shall be capable of being readily opened from the equipment side without the use of a key or tool.

2-312 Accessibility for maintenance (see Appendix G)

Passageways and working space around electrical equipment shall not be used for storage and shall be kept clear of obstruction and arranged to give authorized persons ready access to all parts requiring attention.

2-308 Interpreted,

Rule 2-308(1) Minimum Working space of 1 m

Question: What is meant by "A minimum working space of 1 m with secure footing..." when applied to residential service entrance panelboards that are mounted on or in a wall and require access from only the front?

Answer: This is interpreted as meaning a space that is at least 2 m in height, at least 1 m in depth in front of the panel, and at least 1 m in width or the width of the panel board, whichever is greater. The panel board does not have to be centered in the width of the working space; it can be off center.

Rationale: This interpretation is adequate for safety, is common practice, is reasonable to comply with and does not place any undue hardship on the customer. This interpretation is consistent with Rules 2-308 and 6-206.

6-206 Consumer's service equipment location (see Appendices B and G)
(1) Service boxes or other consumer's service equipment shall be
(a) installed in a location that complies with the requirements of the supply authority;
(b) readily accessible or have the means of operation readily accessible;
(c) not located in coal bins, clothes closets, bathrooms, stairways, rooms in which the temperature normally exceeds 30 °C, dangerous or hazardous locations, locations where the headroom clearance is less than 2 m, nor in any similar undesirable locations;
(d) placed within the building being served, unless environmental conditions within the structure are unsuitable, in which case, where there is a deviation allowed in accordance with Rule 2-030, the service box or other consumer's service equipment shall be permitted to be placed on the outside of the building or on a pole and shall be
(i) protected from the weather, or be weatherproof; and
(ii) protected from mechanical injury if less than 2 m above ground; and
(e) as close as practicable to the point where the consumer's service conductors enter the building.
(2) Notwithstanding Subrule (1)(b), where subject to unauthorized operation, the service disconnecting means shall be permitted to be rendered inaccessible by
(a) an integral locking device;
(b) an external lockable cover; or
(c) location of the service box inside a separate building, room, or enclosure.

Download ESA Bulletin 2-9-4 - Here