{"id":259456,"date":"2026-01-12T13:31:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T19:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mfe-is.com\/?p=259456"},"modified":"2026-01-13T15:28:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T21:28:19","slug":"confined-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mfe-is.com\/en_ca\/confined-space\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Confined Space? [New for 2026]"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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What Is a Confined Space? [New for 2026]<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A confined space is a space located inside of a structure or system where work is done.<\/p>

But not all internal spaces fit the definition of a confined space\u2014the inside of an airplane hangar, for instance, would not be considered a confined space.<\/p>

To meet the definition, these three criteria must all be present:<\/p>

The space is large enough for a person to enter it and work within it.<\/p>

The space has limited means for entering or exiting it.<\/p>

The space is not meant for continuous human occupation.<\/p>

Following the above criteria, when an inspector enters a giant boiler or a storage tank to inspect it, they are conducting work in a confined space. But, as already mentioned, an airplane hangar would not be considered a confined space because the space does not have limited means for entering or exiting.<\/p>

These kinds of spaces can be found underground and above ground, and they\u2019re quite common in most industrial scenarios.<\/p>

Other terms for confined spaces include a confined area, confined environment, enclosed space, or simply a confined room.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Just because confined spaces are enclosed, that doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re small. For example, a scrubber\u2014known formally as a flue gas desulfurization (FGD) unit\u2014used to \u201cscrub\u201d SO2 emissions from the exhaust of coal-fired power plants might be as high as 80 feet inside.\u00a0<\/p>

Industrial boilers, storage tanks, and other big industrial assets that require periodic\u00a0internal inspections\u00a0also present huge, cavernous spaces, all of which would be considered \u201cconfined spaces\u201d since they meet the three criteria listed above.\u00a0<\/p>

In this guide, we\u2019ll cover how people do work in confined areas, the potential dangers of that work, and the tools used in confined space work, as well as regulatory and permitting considerations for that work.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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How Can You Identify a Confined Space?<\/h2>

Most confined spaces are easily identifiable because they\u2019re indoors and they meet the three criteria\u2014they\u2019re big enough for a person to enter, not made for continuous human occupation, and have limited means of entering\/leaving.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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But there are some examples that require a little bit of an imaginative stretch.\u00a0<\/p>

A ditch, for example, could be considered a confined space if it\u2019s hard to enter and leave it. Another interesting example is the inside of an airplane\u2019s wing, which needs to be inspected periodically, and therefore can require confined space work.<\/p>

An additional factor that can help identify a confined space\u2014one that applies to both the ditch and the airplane wing, as well as to some other less common examples\u2014is to consider the safety implications of work in the space.\u00a0<\/p>

A confined space is a place that often has fatal conditions present, like noxious gasses or potentially lethal materials, but the presence of such elements is not strictly necessary to use the label “confined space.”<\/p>

Consider, for example, a grain bin. Grain bins present confined spaces that can be incredibly dangerous, since, if you fall into the grain, you can quickly drown. Another example are large sewer pipes, which may contain hazardous biological and\/or chemical substances.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Confined Space Examples: Assets that Require Confined Space Entry\u00a0<\/h2>

All heavy industries have assets that require periodic people work in confined spaces.<\/p>

Below we list some of the most common examples of assets that required confined space entry.<\/p>

Oil & Gas<\/h3>