Motor Control Centre Layouts for Back-to-Back Installation
Two motor control centre sections often need to share a tight footprint. The available plant room leaves little room for conventional single-sided rows. Floor space is already committed to process equipment, cable routes and access aisles. Expanding the building is rarely an option. The installation must remain practical for both construction and ongoing maintenance.
The Back-to-Back Configuration
A back-to-back motor control centre places two rows of cubicles against a common central busbar or with their rears facing each other. The overall depth increases, yet the length of the assembly shortens significantly. Two sections occupy roughly the same footprint that a single conventional line would require.
At A&T Enclosures, we manufacture motor control centres with back-to-back options as a standard response to limited space. We also offer corner sections and U-shaped arrangements when the site demands further flexibility. Overhead busbar sections can further free floor space by moving the main horizontal distribution above the cubicles.
The busbar system itself remains fully rated. We use high-grade copper arrangements verified to BS EN 61439-2. Currents from 400 A to 5000 A are achievable, with short-circuit withstand ratings from 30 kA to 100 kA depending on the design. One recent project for a major paper mill delivered a 12-metre motor control centre with a bolted HDHC copper busbar rated at 2500 A in a back-to-back configuration, complete with Form 4 Type 7 construction and individual glanding facilities for each unit.
Access and Maintenance Considerations
Back-to-back layouts require careful planning of front access on both sides. Doors must open fully without obstruction. Working clearances must still meet the relevant standards. Internal segregation remains essential so that one side can be maintained while the other stays energised where the design permits.
We design the cubicles as fully welded sheet-steel construction. Each functional unit can incorporate its own glanding facility. This keeps cable entries organised and maintains the required degree of separation. Sub-floor plinths with height adjustment options help match existing cable trenches or raised floors. The result is an arrangement that remains serviceable throughout its life.
Technicians retain clear routes to withdraw drawers or open doors. Cable management stays logical. The compact footprint does not come at the expense of safe isolation or inspection.
IP Considerations for Compact Installations
Restricted plant rooms often carry their own environmental challenges. Dust, moisture or occasional wash-down may be present. The motor control centre must still achieve the required degree of protection.
A&T Enclosures designs IP-rated enclosures to suit the exact conditions of the site. Ratings from IP31 to IP55 are routinely achieved on motor control centres, with higher ratings available where the application demands them. We select enclosure construction, door seals, gland plates, and ventilation arrangements to preserve the stated IP rating while allowing internal heat from busbars and devices to dissipate safely.
Thermal performance receives equal attention. We model the arrangement in 3D and calculate temperature rise in line with BS EN 61439-2. Busbar placement, compartment sizing, and material selection all help keep internal temperatures within limits. The IP rating and thermal design work together rather than against each other.
When two motor control centre sections must share a restricted area, the back-to-back layout offers a practical route forward. It shortens the overall length, preserves access and maintains the protection levels the installation needs. A&T Enclosures builds these arrangements as engineered solutions rather than compromises.
Our back-to-back MCCs sit inside carefully engineered IP-rated enclosures that deliver the required protection without expanding the footprint.
If your next project faces similar spatial limits, speak with our design team. We can develop a motor control centre layout that fits the available footprint while meeting the full technical specification.