Baseboard Heater location restriction

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gngren

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Metro Tri-State area PA,MD,VA,WV,DC,DE
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Master Electrician
I have been asked by a builder to install a baseboard heater inside a Walk in closet. It will be located under a window. I have not found any code articles that say this can't be done. Does anybody know if it is allowed. I am waiting for an inspector from the county to give me a call back.
Thanks,
Tony
 
gngren said:
I have been asked by a builder to install a baseboard heater inside a Walk in closet. It will be located under a window. I have not found any code articles that say this can't be done. Does anybody know if it is allowed. I am waiting for an inspector from the county to give me a call back.
Thanks,
Tony

That must be some closet with a window in it :D

424.9 states:
All fixed electric space-heating equipment shall be installed in an approved manner.

Checking with the county BEFORE proceeding was a great idea!
424.13 will probably come into play here.
 
Thanks I already looked there. I was always under the impression you couldn't put one in a clothes closet. But I can't find it anywhere specifically. I can only find restrictions for "Space-Heating Cables" (heat tape). Not to be used in closets.
 
I can't think of any reason not to install a baseboard heater inside a large closet. In fact, my wife's closet is 10' X 14' and is equipped with baseboaed heat. It is normal practice to install baseboard heat beneath a window. Remember that most baseboard heat units include instructions that prohibit their installation below receptacles. This will prevent electric cords from coming in direct contact with the heater. Common sense would indicate that the heater should be installed in a manner that would prevent hanging clothes coming into contact with the heater. Installing below a window should satisfy that requirement.
 
424.13 would be the specific article ;)
424.13 Spacing from Combustible Materials.
Fixed electric space-heating equipment shall be installed to provide the required spacing between the equipment and adjacent combustible material, unless it has been found to be acceptable where installed in direct contact with combustible material.
Clothes qualify as "combustible".

The commentary(uneforceable) following 240.24(D) in the 2002 NECH states:
Examples of locations where combustible materials may be stored are linen closets, paper storage closets, and clothes closets.
If we can't put a panel and OCPDs in a clothes closet, how would we be able to put in an electric BBH?

Directing us back to 424.10 ~ Special Permission ...and your upcoming conversation with the county.
 
I talked with one of the resi. inspectors, and he said it should be fine. As long as it is installed per the manufacturers instructions. He also told me that I need to contact there commercial division as the project I am referencing is a stacked townhouse community and the commercial guys might look at it differently. Gotta love Montgomery County, MD.............
 
I've done it in the past but have insisted on using a hydronic based heater so I sleep better at night. I just couldn't bring myself to believe that the homeowner would never stack cardboord boxes ot hang clothes in front of the heater.
 
Jljohnson said:
I've done it in the past but have insisted on using a hydronic based heater so I sleep better at night. I just couldn't bring myself to believe that the homeowner would never stack cardboord boxes ot hang clothes in front of the heater.
I absolutely agree--- a standard baseboard heater in a closet is an accident waiting to happen. I have seen to many fires due to boxes be piled next to them. A closet ought to be a NO NO-- I would also check the manufacturers info that comes with the heater they may not allow it.
 
Stacking boxes, long curtains, furniture too close, are all hazards when it comes to baseboard heaters, whether or not they are in a closet. It seems there are some people that are determined to do stupid things and there is nothing that we can do to prevent them from doing so.
 
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