Accessible underground raceways must meet specific criteria to be in compliance. What is a critical component to be considered?

Accessibility is indeed a critical component when considering underground raceways in compliance with the National Electrical Code (NEC). This is because the purpose of making raceways accessible is to ensure that they can be easily reached for maintenance, inspections, or future modifications without extensive excavation or disruption of the surrounding environment.

Underground raceways must be installed in a way that allows access for personnel to perform necessary work safely and efficiently. This includes consideration of how often the raceway may need to be accessed, what kind of work will be done, and ensuring that any surrounding structures or landscape do not impede access. Accessibility also ensures compliance with safety standards, allowing for quick responses in the event of a fault or malfunction.

Depth of installation, visibility, and material used are important factors in the overall installation and safety of raceways, but they do not directly address the critical need for those systems to be accessible to maintenance personnel. Thus, ensuring that underground raceways are accessible fulfills both safety requirements and facilitates efficient operation within the built environment.