Designing Electrical Rooms for Maintainability and Safety

Electrical rooms are the operational core of any transit facility. They house the systems that keep everything running—from traction power to lighting and SCADA. But without thoughtful design, these rooms can become cramped, overheated, and hazardous. Prioritizing maintainability and safety from the outset ensures long-term reliability, easier upgrades, and safer working conditions.

Key Design Principles

1. Clearances and Accessibility
   Maintain minimum working clearances as per PEC and NFPA 70—typically 1 meter or more in front of switchgear and panels. Ensure unobstructed access to disconnects, breakers, and emergency exits.

2. Ventilation and Thermal Management
   Electrical equipment generates heat. Without proper ventilation or HVAC, temperatures can exceed safe limits. Include dedicated cooling systems or forced ventilation, especially in underground or enclosed rooms.

3. Lighting and Visibility
   Use shadow-free, energy-efficient lighting to illuminate all equipment faces and labels. Emergency lighting must be tied to UPS or generator-fed circuits for blackout scenarios.

4. Cable Management
   Route cables in trays or ducts with clear separation by voltage class. Label everything. Good cable discipline improves airflow, reduces fire risk, and simplifies maintenance.

5. Fire Protection
   Avoid water-based sprinklers. Use clean agent systems like FM-200 or Novec 1230 to suppress fires without damaging energized equipment. Include smoke detection and fire-rated enclosures.

6. Access Control and Signage
   Restrict entry to trained personnel. Post hazard signage, arc flash labels, and PPE requirements at all entry points. Include panic hardware and illuminated exit signs.

7. Modularity and Expansion
   Design with spare conduits, oversized panels, and modular switchgear to accommodate future loads or system upgrades without major rework.

8. Digital Monitoring and SCADA Integration
   Equip rooms with sensors for temperature, humidity, and breaker status. Feed data into SCADA for real-time diagnostics and predictive maintenance.

A Field Insight

In one depot project, the electrical room was initially designed with minimal clearance around the main switchboard. During commissioning, technicians struggled to access terminals safely. The solution? Recessing the panel into a structural niche and rerouting adjacent conduits—a retrofit that could’ve been avoided with better spatial planning.

Final Thoughts

An electrical room isn’t just a box with gear—it’s a living environment that supports critical infrastructure. When designed for maintainability and safety, it becomes a space where technicians can work confidently, systems operate reliably, and upgrades happen without chaos.