Existing Bathroom Panel can be upgraded?

[flashlight]

This is a 20 circuit panel in the bathroom of a large (former) hunting cabin. It was built that way because the bathroom was the logical place for the service drop, and it was legal at the time. Not sure in which code cycle it became illegal.
Now, they need more positions, and the most straightforward way to do that would be to swap the panel.
Are they allowed to do that now?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I believe it best if you contact the inspector and see if they will allow it. Some areas say yea others nay

 

[marmathsen]

I believe it best if you contact the inspector and see if they will allow it. Some areas say yea others nay

I was always under the impression that when replacing a panelboard and it's enclosure that it must be brought up to current code including its location, but I wasn't able to find that this morning when I looked for it. Is that consistent with your understanding of the NEC?

Other sections explicitly state what must be updated when installing a replacement.

Rob G
Seattle

 

[infinity]

It would just add a sub-panel somewhere else in a permitted location fed from the original panel.

 

[ramsy]

I believe it best if you contact the inspector and see if they will allow it. Some areas say yea others nay

And, contact the POCO for a meter spot, who may want different location for service

 

[LarryFine]

Can you use tandem breakers?

 

[charlie b]

I was always under the impression that when . (any existing condition is modified) . it must be brought up to current code including its location, but I wasn't able to find that this morning when I looked for it.

I don't believe that is in the NEC. Its opposite, however, can be found in the (unenforceable) annex. The so-called "Grandfather Rule" essentially says that existing conditions need not be brought up to current codes, unless they pose an immediate safety hazard. Many people think that that rule applies only if the configuration complied with the codes that were in effect when it was first installed, but that is not in the NEC.

I agree with Dennis, in that you should ask the inspector. But first I suggest asking yourself whether the existing layout has the panel close enough to a water source, a towel rack, or something else that creates a safety hazard. If that answer is, "yes," your next question should be, "do I push for a relocation, or do I just do what the customer wants, or do I walk away?"

 

[charlie b]

This is a 20 circuit panel in the bathroom of a large (former) hunting cabin.

Please clarify one point: does this former hunting cabin have permanent provisions for cooking, sleeping, living, and sanitation? That is, does it meet the NEC definition of a "dwelling unit"?

 

[Doc13067]

This is a 20 circuit panel in the bathroom of a large (former) hunting cabin. It was built that way because the bathroom was the logical place for the service drop, and it was legal at the time. Not sure in which code cycle it became illegal.
Now, they need more positions, and the most straightforward way to do that would be to swap the panel.
Are they allowed to do that now?

I recently ran into this with a closet. The homeowner did a bunch of meth and ripped apart his panel looking for a bomb. I wanted to repair it because I thought that I couldn’t put a new one in the closet. The way it was explained to me by the inspector was if you’re not running a new service cable you can simply repair it. As soon as you run new cables now you need to find a compliant location. This doesn’t answer about replacing it but if they would allow repairing it like in my case the question is where is the dividing line that requires you to move it. But at least there are cases where you could avoid the hassle of moving it