Closet, or not a closet?

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BMacky

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Foster City, CA
What really constitutes a closet, OR, makes it unacceptable for a sub panel? These photos show a Federal Pacific sub panel my client would like to replace. If rotated 180 degrees it will end up in the dining room wall (lovely!). The space is so open. I am considering sharing this with the AHJ. Just wonder if anyone out there has ever gotten a variance on something like this and the supportive reasoning. It has a cabinet with doors and an open closet system unit for hanging clothing. But it is not really confined like your typical panel in a bedroom or entry closet.
 

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The code says overcurrent devices shall not be in the area of easily ignitable material, such as clothes closets

No clothes will be in that area

I am an inspector and would have no problem with this location
 
Hi, John. That's good to know. I was wondering how much of the Code is open to interpretation. I guess all of it is if you don't really read it!

Thanks! Good answer.
 
This is another poorly written code section. In the vicinity of easily ignitable materials to me that means something like tool sheds and garages where gasoline is stored or a work shop where solvents are used and stored. The fact that they mentioned clothes closets and not those other locations makes this section confusing and poorly conceived.
 
infinity said:
This is another poorly written code section. In the vicinity of easily ignitable materials to me that means something like tool sheds and garages where gasoline is stored or a work shop where solvents are used and stored. The fact that they mentioned clothes closets and not those other locations makes this section confusing and poorly conceived.
Click to expand...
And it only really applies to clothes closets where the panel is in the vicinity of the clothes. It is not a blanket prohibition on installing a panel in a closet that also has clothes in it. The language "such as clothes closets" is an example of an area that may have easily ignitable material in the vicinity, but not a specific rule.
As you said the language is very poor and needs work.
 
Wow I really had to study these pictures, the only things I could find common was the blemish on the wall below the panel.

It looks like a designer was involved to create that cavity slightly in front of the panel, but maybe not. I even had to go and
look up the definitions of the corridor and a hallway, but the word I was looking for was anti-room. Your panel is in the hallway. IMO,

What I was thinking was : The meaning of ANTEROOM is a small outer room that leads to another room and that is often used as a
waiting room. I don't remember the definition this way(waiting room), and recall it as an undefined room leading to another.
 
cadpoint said:
Wow I really had to study these pictures, the only things I could find common was the blemish on the wall below the panel.

It looks like a designer was involved to create that cavity slightly in front of the panel, but maybe not. I even had to go and
look up the definitions of the corridor and a hallway, but the word I was looking for was anti-room. Your panel is in the hallway. IMO,

What I was thinking was : The meaning of ANTEROOM is a small outer room that leads to another room and that is often used as a
waiting room. I don't remember the definition this way(waiting room), and recall it as an undefined room leading to another.
Click to expand...
Yes, much like a hallway with one entrance. I thought it may have been a laundry at one time.
 
If it was and it does not appear to be the case, behind the closet pole then there would be a problem, in years past behind the clothes was a popular spot for a panel that is difficult to move.
 
cadpoint said:
What I was thinking was : The meaning of ANTEROOM is a small outer room that leads to another room and that is often used as a
waiting room. I don't remember the definition this way(waiting room), and recall it as an undefined room leading to another.
Click to expand...
"You can wait here in the sitting room, or you can sit here in the waiting room."
 
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