Combustibles within panel board

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marcmm

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Hi, just looking to see if anyone can point me to the Code which speaks to combustibles within a panel... The only one I can find is 110 regarding the panels listing but this panel is old and finding that prob won't happen.
 

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IMO 110.12(A) applies.

110.12(A) Unused Openings. Unused openings, other than those intended for the operation of equipment, those intended for mounting purposes, or those permitted as part of the design for listed equipment, shall be closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment. Where metallic plugs or plates are used with nonmetallic enclosures, they shall be recessed at least 6 mm (1⁄4 in.)from the outer surface of the enclosure.
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First all I was seeing was some cobwebs and dust and wondered why that was being addressed, but then I finally figured it must be about what looks like a partition of some sort made of plywood. Presuming that is a partition between another compartment of the same equipment. Maybe replaced an original piece that was lost or damaged?

Not certain how to address that code wise - probably don't have too much concern about it otherwise.

First guess is there is metering equipment in the adjacent compartment?
 
norcal said:
Looks like the divider between the utility & distribution section of a all in one panel.
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That is what I thought. I also don't feel there is much threat of this starting on fire. Heat will be a bigger issue at terminations on this kind of thing. If it started fire anyway - is likely contained to the cabinet, not enough fuel there to be sustained all that long.
 
kwired said:
That is what I thought. I also don't feel there is much threat of this starting on fire. Heat will be a bigger issue at terminations on this kind of thing. If it started fire anyway - is likely contained to the cabinet, not enough fuel there to be sustained all that long.
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I was concerned about the possibility of fire / containment however, the opening can provide oxygen and then there is the stud cavity. just trying to think of everything. These are those situations where people say, "wow, never expected that to happen". Thus the reason for Code cycles I suppose.. lol
 
shall be closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment
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I might argue that the protection supplied by the wood is substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment if I had to.

In what way is it not substantially equivalent? Just because it is not of the same material does not change the level of protection it affords.
 
hbiss said:
So the even bigger question is why are open conductors entering the panel?

And what was the big square hole for?

-Hal
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COULD be that the actual hole behind that plywood is a regular round conduit KO and at one time there WAS conduit for those conductors. But someone came along later and decided the conduit was unnecessary(!) then had to gin up a way to not cut the conductor insulation, so having only plywood and a table saw, came up with this DIY hack but because it was a table saw, it came out as a rectagle.

Regardless, not kosher, no inspector in his right mind would allow it, and you will ALSO have to deal with those conductors NOT being sheathed NM/SE, so would need a raceway of some sort and a proper fitting for entering that box.

As to "combustible", that's actually not the issue here. You can use plywood for back panels in enclosures, it's done all the time. It's just not a good idea...
 
Jraef said:
COULD be that the actual hole behind that plywood is a regular round conduit KO and at one time there WAS conduit for those conductors. But someone came along later and decided the conduit was unnecessary(!) then had to gin up a way to not cut the conductor insulation, so having only plywood and a table saw, came up with this DIY hack but because it was a table saw, it came out as a rectagle.

Regardless, not kosher, no inspector in his right mind would allow it, and you will ALSO have to deal with those conductors NOT being sheathed NM/SE, so would need a raceway of some sort and a proper fitting for entering that box.

As to "combustible", that's actually not the issue here. You can use plywood for back panels in enclosures, it's done all the time. It's just not a good idea...
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Much appreciated.
 
hbiss said:
So the even bigger question is why are open conductors entering the panel?

And what was the big square hole for?

-Hal
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ditto. If there is a neutral for that circuit it should have been run through same spot when it leaves the panel, EGC also.

More questionable things here then just that piece of wood. If it had been a partition between say a meter section and loadcenter section of same overall enclosure, I don't have too much issue with it.
 
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