Inspection access

[nizak]

Building contractor is asking me to install a residential service on a new construction project.

The panel will be located in the basement.

Conditions are;
- Pea gravel floor with pockets of standing water .
- No permanent or temporary stairs.
- Only access is through outdoor egress with about a 3' step down.

My thoughts are that the inspector will refuse entering because of accessibility.

Thoughts please.

 

[eds]

If you can access it to build the service, why cant the inspector access it for inspection. I assume it will be built to accommodate the conditions, and be code compliant now and at the finish of the project.

 

[ptonsparky]

I wouldn’t like it either but add the price of a 3’ fiberglass step ladder and leave it there.

 

[Coppersmith]

I looked for an applicable code section and this was the closest I could find:

110.26 Spaces About Electrical Equipment. Access and
working space shall be provided and maintained about all
electrical equipment to permit ready and safe operation and
maintenance of such equipment.

(C) Entrance to and Egress from Working Space.
(1) Minimum Required. At least one entrance of sufficient
area shall be provided to give access to and egress
from working space about electrical equipment.

If you bring you own ladder the space is accessible. Not easily or readily accessible, but that is not the requirement.

 

[gadfly56]

I looked for an applicable code section and this was the closest I could find:

110.26 Spaces About Electrical Equipment. Access and
working space shall be provided and maintained about all
electrical equipment to permit ready and safe operation and
maintenance of such equipment.

(C) Entrance to and Egress from Working Space.
(1) Minimum Required. At least one entrance of sufficient
area shall be provided to give access to and egress
from working space about electrical equipment.

If you bring you own ladder the space is accessible. Not easily or readily accessible, but that is not the requirement.

OK, but if I were the prospective homeowner, I'd be saying WTF, no thanks! Bad enough you stumble around in the dark if there is an issue, but now you have to go outside, dragging a step ladder, open an access way, set the ladder, and climb down with one hand while clutching a flashlight in the other?!?

 

[Coppersmith]

OK, but if I were the prospective homeowner, I'd be saying WTF, no thanks! Bad enough you stumble around in the dark if there is an issue, but now you have to go outside, dragging a step ladder, open an access way, set the ladder, and climb down with one hand while clutching a flashlight in the other?!?

Is the GC paying the OP or the HO? If it's the GC, just do what he asks and let him take the flack. If it's the HO, consult with the HO and see what they want.

Oh, and code requires a light in the area.

110.26(D) Illumination. Illumination shall be provided for all
working spaces about service equipment, switchboards,
switchgear, panelboards, or motor control centers installed indoors
and shall not be controlled by automatic means only.
Additional lighting outlets shall not be required where the
work space is illuminated by an adjacent light source or as
permitted by 210.70(A)(1), Exception No. 1, for switched receptacles.

 

[MAC702]

I wouldn’t like it either but add the price of a 3’ fiberglass step ladder and leave it there.

I'd really like a 6' ladder to get in and out of a 3' hole, but that's because I climb ladders with tools in both hands.

 

[david]

Building contractor is asking me to install a residential service on a new construction project.

The panel will be located in the basement.

Conditions are;
- Pea gravel floor with pockets of standing water .
- No permanent or temporary stairs.
- Only access is through outdoor egress with about a 3' step down.

My thoughts are that the inspector will refuse entering because of accessibility.

Thoughts please.

most of the time the building contractor will have a ladder if the electrical inspector was made aware of the hours the building contractor would be on site

The Building contractor may be on a generator and might welcome an inspection on the
service

50 % of the homes built here are built without the site having a temp service

 

[texie]

OK, but if I were the prospective homeowner, I'd be saying WTF, no thanks! Bad enough you stumble around in the dark if there is an issue, but now you have to go outside, dragging a step ladder, open an access way, set the ladder, and climb down with one hand while clutching a flashlight in the other?!?

I'm with you. Forget the code. This fails the good judgement and common sense test. I would never allow it in one of my properties.

 

[hbiss]

Building contractor is asking me to install a residential service on a new construction project.

The panel will be located in the basement.

Conditions are;
- Pea gravel floor with pockets of standing water .
- No permanent or temporary stairs.
- Only access is through outdoor egress with about a 3' step down.

Wait.

Is this condition because the slab is not yet poured and no steps installed or is this how it's going to be?

-Hal

 

[gadfly56]

Wait.

Is this condition because the slab is not yet poured and no steps installed or is this how it's going to be?

-Hal

OK, that is a fair question. I may have jumped the gun a bit. Let's see what the OP has to say.

 

[Adamjamma]

asa homeowner I would hate it if every time the wife or daughters blew a breaker I had to find a ladder, and climb into the crawlspace to flip the breaker back on...

 

[romex jockey]

110.26A3 would , if a 200A, require 6 1/2' ....~RJ~