location of residential panel

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Daja7

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Just wondering how to best handle this situation.
We did a remodel of bathroom and laundry room for older home.
We installed a small sub panel to accommodate new services for laundry and bath.
Placed sub panel in laundry room. all clearances are met. room is 15 x 15 with closet in it
(use to be a bedroom). Inspector failed it because he said it is a closet in his opinion and
could be used to store clothes. panel is in a location where clothes cannot be stored.
Hate cause waves but this inspector has caused issues like this several other times. ( he is new)
 
Sounds like the AHJ (and the letter A probably does NOT stand for 'Authority'...) has never seen -real- houses. My bedroom growing up was 8x12!
 
Let's bring "Charlie's Rule" into this discussion. :happyyes:
The code - 240.24(D) - does not forbid overcurrent devices to be installed in clothes closets, not as such. Does that surprise anyone? :?

What it forbids is putting them in the vicinity of easily ignitable materials. It then gives clothes closets as an example of where that might come into play. I can conceive of a walk-in clothes closet that has space set aside for a power panel, and that has no shelving or clothes hanging rods anywhere near that panel. Such a closet would not invoke the prohibition of this article.

So whatever you choose to call this room (i.e., call it a laundry room or call it a closet), the panel is not located in the vicinity of easily ignitable materials. Therefore, it is allowed to be where you installed it. This inspector is simply wrong.
 
Besides the other arguments already presented, if this room has the required laundry receptacle(s) then I don't see how anyone could call it a closet. :slaphead:
 
I agree.. the inspector cannot pass or fail things based on "what ifs". Talk to him or go over his head...Tell him you disagree and that you will have to go over his head. If he is not too tall that should be easy..:D
 
charlie b said:
Let's bring "Charlie's Rule" into this discussion. :happyyes:
The code - 240.24(D) - does not forbid overcurrent devices to be installed in clothes closets, not as such. Does that surprise anyone? :?
Click to expand...
Doesn't surprise me.
What it forbids is putting them in the vicinity of easily ignitable materials. It then gives clothes closets as an example of where that might come into play. I can conceive of a walk-in clothes closet that has space set aside for a power panel, and that has no shelving or clothes hanging rods anywhere near that panel. Such a closet would not invoke the prohibition of this article.

So whatever you choose to call this room (i.e., call it a laundry room or call it a closet), the panel is not located in the vicinity of easily ignitable materials. Therefore, it is allowed to be where you installed it. This inspector is simply wrong.
Click to expand...

And yet we never hear of an inspector not allowing a panel in a garage. What's more easily ignitable than cans of paint thinner, gasoline, cardboard boxes....?
 
ActionDave said:
And yet we never hear of an inspector not allowing a panel in a garage. What's more easily ignitable than cans of paint thinner, gasoline, cardboard boxes....?
Click to expand...

Exactly, I've been saying that for years. :)

Below my garage panel was a rolling tool chest with paint remover, paint thinner, denatured alcohol, grease, and some other stuff (all more dangerous than some clothes) sitting right on the top.
 
is this area it seems the clothes bar is where we define a closet as a clothes closet.

That would seem to be more in line with the code intent as far as being close to easily ignitable materials. Not saying it is perfect but a closet without a bar isnt really a clothes closet.

But it hard to argue with Charlie on almost any subject. I just wish everyone thought that way!

never gave much thought to a garage but great points


Jim
 
the 2020 NEC has a definition of a laundry area. Room with a laundry tub, washer or dryer. The definitions tell us what rules to use, in this case, laundry area circuit and receptacle...
 
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