Panel Index Card

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ceyer

Member
My "opinion" is that the panel index card is as much a safety item as anything else and that it should be neatly typed and up to date at all times.
My problem is that this is one of the most difficult things to get everyone from contractor to maintenance personnel to keep up to date. I have seen index cards so overwritten with pencil, pen, magic marker etc. that it is nearly impossible to determine which breaker serves what.
The Fire Marshall will write up these problems if he happens to check a panel. But isn't there a NEC requirement for maintenance and upkeep of panel index cards?

How do you cure people of these bad habits other than firing them?
 
charlie

charlie

Senior Member
Location
Indianapolis
ceyer said:
My "opinion" is that the panel index card . . . should be neatly typed and up to date at all times. . . . How do you cure people of these bad habits other than firing them?
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You are correct, it is your opinion. In my opinion, the card should be clear as to the loads served . . . period. Typing or a computer generated panel schedule is nice but is not required.

To address your last comment, use progressive discipline. However, you have to make sure you are getting the guilty party. :)
 
weressl

weressl

Esteemed Member
Location
Texas by the Gulf, geat crab, great shrimp
ceyer said:
My "opinion" is that the panel index card is as much a safety item as anything else and that it should be neatly typed and up to date at all times.
My problem is that this is one of the most difficult things to get everyone from contractor to maintenance personnel to keep up to date. I have seen index cards so overwritten with pencil, pen, magic marker etc. that it is nearly impossible to determine which breaker serves what.
The Fire Marshall will write up these problems if he happens to check a panel. But isn't there a NEC requirement for maintenance and upkeep of panel index cards?

How do you cure people of these bad habits other than firing them?
Click to expand...

It is also an OSHA requirement.
 
cowboyjwc

cowboyjwc

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Simi Valley, CA
That seems to be one of the most common things I write up at final is missing panel schedules. The excuse almost to a man is that they are in the office being typed up.

I agree that they should be neat, but I don't care if they are typed. When I worked maintenance we had an engineer that wanted them in pencil so that they could be erased easily if you changed something.
 
Smart $

Smart $

Esteemed Member
Location
Ohio
ceyer said:
...But isn't there a NEC requirement for maintenance and upkeep of panel index cards?...
Click to expand...
Yes, there is...
408.4 Circuit Directory or Circuit Identification. Every circuit and circuit modification shall be legibly identified as to its clear, evident, and specific purpose or use. The identification shall include sufficient detail to allow each circuit to be distinguished from all others. The identification shall be included in a circuit directory that is located on the face or inside of the panel door in the case of a panelboard, and located at each switch on a switchboard.
Click to expand...
 
ultramegabob

ultramegabob

Senior Member
Location
Indiana
I have a little handheld label maker that I use for panel legends, it fits in the space allowd for most panel legends. its especially nice when I have to re-write over where someone wrote with a dull sharpie... I just did re-wire in a resturaunt, the old panels had nail polish, whiteout, sharpie, yellow paint, sticker dots, masking tape all over the cover and dead front to identify the circuits, I removed everything with acetone, repainted the covers, and installed new self adhesive panel legends, it took a little more effort, but it looks really nice now....
 
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SmithBuilt

Senior Member
Location
Foothills of NC
I agree it should be kept up to date and neat. It is very handy to turn off a circuit and it actually be right.

But as an electrician I never rely on them.

There's just too many uncaring hands in the pot to be able to keep them accurate.
 
C

ceyer

Member
Panel Index

Panel Index

A belated thanks for all the replies. I came down with the bug shortly after posting the original.

I work at a University and the academic world is constantly changing electrical demands, consequently the tendency is to scratch out and write over with intentions to redo the card later - never happens.

Neat & readable = typed to me or the small labeler sounds good also. I have created an Excel based Index Card that can easily updated by our maintenance staff that makes a very neat card. Getting them to use it is the problem. AT least I can show them the proper section of the code now.

Thanks to all.
Charlie
 
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