110.26(f) Shower or tub wall with panel in it

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Moosifer

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Any thoughts on this? I'm waiting to find out where the shower head is if there is one. Just got asked if this was legal by a customer. I'm scared it might be ok if there is no shower head above.Screenshot_20190603-150719.jpg
 
The correct reference would then be 110.26(E). But I can't understand what I am looking at.
  1. Is the "gray thing" a panel, with breakers that are operated from the opposite side of the wall?
  2. Are we looking at a wall or a ceiling?
  3. What is the white thing (box) under the gray thing?
  4. It looks like there are pipes on the near side of the white box. What are they?
  5. Where in the photo would the shower head go, if they install one?
 
Charlie you are looking straight at the shower valve with the blue and red pipes as the water piping. The panel is facing the opposite direction into another room. The shower head would be centered above the valves- I presume and up about 6'6"
 
Moosifer said:
Any thoughts on this? I'm waiting to find out where the shower head is if there is one. Just got asked if this was legal by a customer. I'm scared it might be ok if there is no shower head above.View attachment 23047
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Does not violate anything code wise. That said, I would not be inclined to do it if given the choice due to future maintenance issues.
 
texie said:
Does not violate anything code wise. That said, I would not be inclined to do it if given the choice due to future maintenance issues.
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That was my feeling but then I read 110.26(E) and although I always thought it referred to surface mounted panels it does not say that so why would plumbing be allowed above this panel... assuming there is a shower head in the same bay as the panel.
 
Yes the shower head would be above the panel if the mixing valve is in the same area below it.
I don't think it is ok. I told him it wasn't so I guess if it is ok someone please let me know so I can tell him I was wrong.
 
I didn't put it there and wouldn't put it there. A disaster recovery contractor that we do work for asked if it was to code since it is in a house they are working on an hour away from here. I don't think it is to code or should be but I can't find anything saying that it isn't.
 
Moosifer said:
I didn't put it there and wouldn't put it there. A disaster recovery contractor that we do work for asked if it was to code since it is in a house they are working on an hour away from here. I don't think it is to code or should be but I can't find anything saying that it isn't.
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If you are looking at 110.26 (E).

If they want to get picky then even the pipe that are there now would be a violation. Dedicated equipment space from floor to 6 ft. The local authorities may not look at it that way.

Have them get in touch with the local inspectors.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
That was my feeling but then I read 110.26(E) and although I always thought it referred to surface mounted panels it does not say that so why would plumbing be allowed above this panel... assuming there is a shower head in the same bay as the panel.
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Dennis I had a customer move a drain pipe that was in the dedicated equipment space because I kept hitting my head on it (panel change). It was a clear violation.

Inspector gets there and tells the customer that he would not have made him move it. By having the customer move the drain pipe I prevented the inspector from hitting his head as he is about the same height as me.

That drain pipe couldn't have been in a worse place. Get inside and your face was in the panel and get behind it and you couldn't see because it was at eye level. Bend over and get below it and bang the noggin.
 
The piping cannot be in the dedicated equipment space which is equal to the width and depth of the panel.

Dedicatedspace.jpg
 
I interpret the dedicated space as "working space", to safely work on the equipment, not about keeping water from a leak going on it. You could have plumbing on the floor above, a toilet or washing machine. The code allows sprinkler pipes in the space, which could burst and leak. Once they sheet rock is there any clearance issue then? How many panels have you swapped out where the plumbing in the ceiling joists is almost over your existing panel?
 
GerryB said:
I interpret the dedicated space as "working space", to safely work on the equipment, not about keeping water from a leak going on it. You could have plumbing on the floor above, a toilet or washing machine. The code allows sprinkler pipes in the space, which could burst and leak. Once they sheet rock is there any clearance issue then? How many panels have you swapped out where the plumbing in the ceiling joists is almost over your existing panel?
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There are two different things. Working space is in front of the equipment, dedicated equipment space is directly above and below the equipment.
 
infinity said:
There are two different things. Working space is in front of the equipment, dedicated equipment space is directly above and below the equipment.
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It does also say condensation and leaks, and as Dennis said it doesn't address a flush mount installation. Maybe OP should ask the inspector, if it's an insurance job he probably needs a permit.
 
GerryB said:
It does also say condensation and leaks, and as Dennis said it doesn't address a flush mount installation. Maybe OP should ask the inspector, if it's an insurance job he probably needs a permit.
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Where does it say the requirement is only for surface mounted installations?
 
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