tony neri
Member
- Location
- North Carolina
CAN YOU PUT A PANEL BOX IN A CLOSET IF YOU
HAVE THE PROPER CLEARANCES
HAVE THE PROPER CLEARANCES
PANEL BOX LOCATION
- Thread starter tony neri
- Start date
- Status
Re: PANEL BOX LOCATION
Strictly speaking, yes. It will be up to the tenant to keep combustibles away. Many of us inspectors will request that a wall be built to help maintain the fiction of keeping combustibles and storage from being placed in front of the panel. But, if pushed, will have to relent and admit that the code is a minimum standard. We wish we could enforce how it "should" be installed, but in reality, the law only gives us the right to enforce how it "shall" be installed.
Earl
Strictly speaking, yes. It will be up to the tenant to keep combustibles away. Many of us inspectors will request that a wall be built to help maintain the fiction of keeping combustibles and storage from being placed in front of the panel. But, if pushed, will have to relent and admit that the code is a minimum standard. We wish we could enforce how it "should" be installed, but in reality, the law only gives us the right to enforce how it "shall" be installed.
Earl
Re: PANEL BOX LOCATION
Tony, hopefully Earl will be your inspector since he recognizes the word vicinity to be an awfully small area. (within the perimiters of 110.26)
I wish he were interpreting for some of our inspectors.
Roger
Tony, hopefully Earl will be your inspector since he recognizes the word vicinity to be an awfully small area. (within the perimiters of 110.26)
I wish he were interpreting for some of our inspectors.
Roger
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: PANEL BOX LOCATION
This rule "Overcurrent devices shall not be located in the vicinity of easily ignitible material, such as in clothes closets." always seemed strange to me anyway.
Isn't an enclosure supposed to contain any sparks if they where to occur, or is this just forward thinking for when the panel cover is left off permanently.
This rule "Overcurrent devices shall not be located in the vicinity of easily ignitible material, such as in clothes closets." always seemed strange to me anyway.
Isn't an enclosure supposed to contain any sparks if they where to occur, or is this just forward thinking for when the panel cover is left off permanently.
Re: PANEL BOX LOCATION
Bob, you're using that common sense angle.
As far as 240.24 in it's wording, if it meant the clearances per 110.26 it would have referenced 110.26.
I agree the word "vicintity" in 240.24 leaves a big opening for interpretation, unlike the definition of "Patient Vicinity" which is well defined in 517.
Roger
Bob, you're using that common sense angle.
As far as 240.24 in it's wording, if it meant the clearances per 110.26 it would have referenced 110.26.
I agree the word "vicintity" in 240.24 leaves a big opening for interpretation, unlike the definition of "Patient Vicinity" which is well defined in 517.
Roger
G
Guest
Guest
Re: PANEL BOX LOCATION
The problem I see with closets is not the combustibles but the fact that the closet gets too full and the panel becomes inaccessible. No matter where you put a panel in a closet it will get boxed in unless there is dedicated space for the panel.
Better yet, put it behind a door. That will keep it out of the way; out of view; and accessible when needed.
The problem I see with closets is not the combustibles but the fact that the closet gets too full and the panel becomes inaccessible. No matter where you put a panel in a closet it will get boxed in unless there is dedicated space for the panel.
Better yet, put it behind a door. That will keep it out of the way; out of view; and accessible when needed.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: PANEL BOX LOCATION
Wayne those issues are addressed in article 110.
I am just curious how the material will be ignited if you have a proper enclosure around the overcurrent devices?
Wayne those issues are addressed in article 110.
How about a basement where the home owner stores newspapers for recycling.
I am just curious how the material will be ignited if you have a proper enclosure around the overcurrent devices?
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: PANEL BOX LOCATION
Originally posted by roger:
Bob, maybe the NEC is not worried about the electrical equipment starting the fire but protecting it from a fire.
Re: PANEL BOX LOCATION
I changed a panel in a slab home and replaced the panel back in the bedroom closet. If I had my choice I would have put it behind the bedroom door, but being the lowest bidder, back in the closet it went. The AHJ made me rip out all the shelves three foot from the panel and put a piece of plywood, floor to ceiling, in the closet. The next time I did work in that panel, I found out that my little clearance area made a great place to store their Christmas tree......javascript:void(0)
javascript:void(0)
I changed a panel in a slab home and replaced the panel back in the bedroom closet. If I had my choice I would have put it behind the bedroom door, but being the lowest bidder, back in the closet it went. The AHJ made me rip out all the shelves three foot from the panel and put a piece of plywood, floor to ceiling, in the closet. The next time I did work in that panel, I found out that my little clearance area made a great place to store their Christmas tree......javascript:void(0)
javascript:void(0)
tony neri
Member
- Location
- North Carolina
Re: PANEL BOX LOCATION
THANKS FELLAS
MY INSPECTOR MADE US SEPARATE THE PANEL FROM THE
CLOSET WITH A PARTITION, HOWEVER HE AGREES WITH
YOU ALL ON YOUR VIEW POINTS. I THINK THIS WAS
ORIGINALLY ADDRESSED BECAUSE OF THE OLD FUSE BOXES
TONY
THANKS FELLAS
MY INSPECTOR MADE US SEPARATE THE PANEL FROM THE
CLOSET WITH A PARTITION, HOWEVER HE AGREES WITH
YOU ALL ON YOUR VIEW POINTS. I THINK THIS WAS
ORIGINALLY ADDRESSED BECAUSE OF THE OLD FUSE BOXES
TONY
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: PANEL BOX LOCATION
So now with todays totally enclosed panels, IMO it is time for that requirement to be removed from the code.
Yes, that is my opinion also, that the requirement had to do with old open panels.
So now with todays totally enclosed panels, IMO it is time for that requirement to be removed from the code.
G
Guest
Guest
Re: PANEL BOX LOCATION
I would be interested to know when the no panels in closets (if near combustibles) came into the code (or when the NEC started being interpreted/enforced that way).
I would be interested to know when the no panels in closets (if near combustibles) came into the code (or when the NEC started being interpreted/enforced that way).
- Status