Locked door over service panel

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K8MHZ

K8MHZ

Senior Member
Location
Michigan. It's a beautiful peninsula, I've looked
Occupation
Electrician
Here is the scenario:

Carpenter friend calls me and says that one of his customers is turning their home into a day care center. The main service panel is in the garage which is part of a walk way area that kids will be present in from time to time. Some Michigan state inspector told the customer that there had to be a lock on the door of the panel.

Of course, there is no provision for said lock so the customer calls my friend to build a cabinet with a locked door over it.

I told my friend that I thought having a lock over the panel was a violation. He called the City of North Muskegon's electrical inspector and the inspector told him it was OK to lock the service.

I told my friend that I didn't care what the inspector said, DO NOT put a locked door over the service. He didn't but informed me that someone else did.

Am I wrong or is the inspector wrong? It really doesn't matter to me other than pure information as I was only an observer that didn't want a friend to to something wrong and / or unsafe. I have no stake in the matter other than I will run into that inspector sooner or later when I work in that city.
 
230.70(A)(1) requires the service disconnecting means to be readily accessible. The definition of that term includes the requirement that the equipment can be reached quickly, without removing obstacles. I would not include a lock in the category of "obstacles," since all it takes is a key to get past the lock. So I would side with the inspector on this question.
 
charlie b said:
230.70(A)(1) requires the service disconnecting means to be readily accessible. The definition of that term includes the requirement that the equipment can be reached quickly, without removing obstacles. I would not include a lock in the category of "obstacles," since all it takes is a key to get past the lock. So I would side with the inspector on this question.
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I do consider a lock an obstacle. It doesn't even take a key to move a chair yet a chair is still an obstacle.

The lock becomes an even bigger obstacle if the key is lost or is with someone not at the premises.

Some other things to consider. I didn't see the panel, but if the cover and panel were modified to provide for a hasp and a lock, would that not be a violation?

If the cover was not modified and a cabinet was built over it, would THAT not be a violation?

I think the intent of the code is to provide quick (as in not having to root around for a key) access to the panel and locking it denies quick access.

In fact, to me it seems that the entire intent of locking the panel is so that ready access is denied. What other reason could there be?
 
Mark, read the last sentence of the first paragraph of 110.26.

Roger
 
I agree that it is not a violation. Almost every electrical room in every commercial building has a lock on the door. It's a good way to keep the unqualified people out.
 
Take a look at 110.26(G) (New to the 2008).

(G) Locked Electrical Equipment Rooms or Enclosures. Electrical equipment rooms or enclosures housing electrical apparatus that are controlled by a lock(s) shall be considered accessible to qualified persons.
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IMHO this section is just a clarification of the existing rule.

(This might also be the section that Roger is referring too.):)

Chris
 
K8MHZ said:
I did.

It says panels covered and locked shall be considered accessible. It does not say they shall be considered readily accessible. 'Readily accessible' is a separately defined term in the NEC.
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Yes it is and here is commentary from the NECH to accompany the definition

Readily Accessible is defined as "capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections, without requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to climb over or remove obstacles or to resort to portable ladders, chairs, etc." This definition, however, does not preclude the use of a lock on the disconnecting means (circuit breakers panel), provided those, for whom ready access may be necessary, have a key (or lock combination) available.
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OSHA is in agreement with this too, the following is an excerpt from a letter from NCOSHA

The response and interpretation provided here was also offered by federal OSHA in an interpretation 10/24/2005 – The definition of “Readily accessible” does not necessarily preclude the locking of electrical panels, provided those needing ready access are provided a key or lock.
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Roger
 
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Most might not think about this but if your panel is inside your house and you lock the doors you have effectivly a locked panel.
Most commercial panels either have a lock or designed to take one. No problem . Now if you build a cabinet to do this then we night have a 110.26 issue if not built right.
 
Jim brought up another good point, be careful what you build around the panel as you could just cause another code violation. A 30 door will not give you the required side clearance you need a 36 door to do that and a "dog house" will usually cause clearance problems.
 
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