Electrical panel doors

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shawn73

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Napoleon, Ohio
Throughout our plant we have 480V distribution panels without "doors". Even our main switch switch gear coming directly from the plant transformer is open. (Example: Square D QED-S switchboard) By "open" I DO NOT mean that any wiring or terminals are exposed. The panels are similar to your 220 residential panels WITHOUT a door. The panels in our plant were bought this way and are totally assembled. They are out in the open, anyone (production or not) could go up and shut off a breaker. A certain individual is arguing that they need to have doors on all of them, and wants to see the code that says they are alright. He feels that these panels are made to be in isolated rooms that are marked for "authorized individuals only". Is he correct?
I looked through the code book for an answer and I am having trouble. I need to get an answer before we have to build rooms around all our panels!! Can you help me locate the code if there is one? Thanks a lot
 
Re: Electrical panel doors

What difference would it make if they had a door? Unless the door had a lock on it. Your typical home load panel does not have a lock on it.

I think the door is just for appearance.
 
Re: Electrical panel doors

I believe the Code is silent on this and it is up to the product standards. Therefore, if it is listed and a NEMA 1 location, it is just fine unless you have a bunch of jokers who will turn off circuit breakers for "fun". If that were the case, something would already have been done about the "problem". :D
 
Re: Electrical panel doors

Iggy's is the best code for your issue, but 240.24 (A)&(B) back it up as well. The only times that overcurrent protection can be out of public access is multiple occupancy or hotel buildings.

I could foresee problems if maintenance personnel had to ask for a key from management, and the manager was out of the office for the day. How would they perform repairs on equipment? How could they lock it out?

Unless anything in question fell under 700.25 (Emergency Systems), I don't believe the person complaining has a leg to stand on.
 
Re: Electrical panel doors

Originally posted by georgestolz:
The only times that overcurrent protection can be out of public access is multiple occupancy or hotel buildings.
Click to expand...
Huh? :confused:

Overcurrent protection can often be behind locked doors, cabinets etc.
 
Re: Electrical panel doors

misworded that: What I meant to say...er...I don't know how to paraphrase what I mentioned...

Anyway, read that. Yeah. Keep me on my toes, Bob, or I'll wind up with a foot in my mouth :)

Bob, I'm correct in saying that the only time you're required is in emergency systems and the like, right?
 
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