waynebuilding
New member
can i place a picture over the panel trim. commercial application architect wants to cover panel with picture in frame. picture covers entire panel trim. does the code address this issue?
No, 240.24(A)
can i place a picture over the panel trim. commercial application architect wants to cover panel with picture in frame. picture covers entire panel trim. does the code address this issue?
I'm assuming someone is going to know where the panel is. And I assume there is a separate main disconnect the fire dept. will go for if they need to turn the power off.
Steve
It amazes me the extremes folks go through to remove the panel from view. Sometimes I think that the floor could be under a foot of water, the furniture on fire, and the ceiling falling in- yet some folks would still pause to think "my, what an ugly panel!"
One customer of mine forgot about the panel she hid behind a picture - right behind where she sat at her desk. It took me an hour to find the thing.
Another customer went nearly a decade, the combined maintenance staff unable to find the panel that controlled one wing of the building. The panel was discovered, in the main hallway, in plain sight - once they closed the door to an office that had never been closed.
Finally, a restaurant customer had a fabulous mural painted on the wall. The panels (there are three) are nearly impossible to see, even if you know they are there!
In Reno the residential practice is to have the panel on the outside face of the house, at the service. The surest way to find the panel is to look for the largest, thickest, thorniest bush. Quick poll: how many of you keep a pair of 'loppers' or pruning shears handy?
Legal? Sometimes, maybe. Smart? Not hardly.
Most of the arguements against allowing this could be easily resolved by proper identification of the breaker supplying the panel. "Subpanel behind picture in lobby" or "Subpanel behind door in pantry."
This is were my hinged comment came from.Accessible, Readily (Readily Accessible)Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to climb over or remove obstacles or to resort to portable ladders, and so forth.
One customer of mine forgot about the panel she hid behind a picture - right behind where she sat at her desk. It took me an hour to find the thing.
Another customer went nearly a decade, the combined maintenance staff unable to find the panel that controlled one wing of the building. The panel was discovered, in the main hallway, in plain sight - once they closed the door to an office that had never been closed.
This is were my hinged comment came from.Code:Accessible, Readily (Readily Accessible)Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to climb over or remove obstacles or to resort to portable ladders, and so forth.
A picture would be so easy to remove I'm not sure i would consider it an "obstacle".
I guess that would be up to the local AHJ.