panel location - small offices in mixed-use

D

designer82

Senior Member
Location
Boston
Two small offices (two different tenants) in a mixed-use building with the offices being on the ground floor and residential units above. The offices have no room for a panel to go, any issues with putting the office panels in the basement main electrical room?

The meter center will also be in the main electrical room in the basement. The door would need to be and remain unlocked at all times to allow tenant access correct?
 
designer82 said:
Two small offices (two different tenants) in a mixed-use building with the offices being on the ground floor and residential units above. The offices have no room for a panel to go, any issues with putting the office panels in the basement main electrical room?

The meter center will also be in the main electrical room in the basement. The door would need to be and remain unlocked at all times to allow tenant access correct?
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Utility company is ok with meters in the basement?
When you say offices have no room…is that the Architect saying he doesn’t want to see them? You just need 20+ inches of wall space to change 3.5” metal studs to 6”.
Running all the home runs to the basement is messy, or if you want to add something later is a pain.
 
MyCleveland said:
When you say offices have no room…is that the Architect saying he doesn’t want to see them?
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Excellent question!

I have a question for the group: What do you think about hanging a photo or poster over a recessed panel? As long as you still have working clearance, I don't have an issue with a future electrician having to take down the "artwork." This should satisfy an architects sense of esthetics.
 
charlie b said:
I have a question for the group: What do you think about hanging a photo or poster over a recessed panel? As long as you still have working clearance, I don't have an issue with a future electrician having to take down the "artwork." This should satisfy an architects sense of esesthetics.
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I don't have a problem with someone putting a picture over a recessed panel. It happens quite often.
That said, I suppose under the definition of readily accessible, a picture is an object to be removed.

Ron
 
charlie b said:
Excellent question!

I have a question for the group: What do you think about hanging a photo or poster over a recessed panel? As long as you still have working clearance, I don't have an issue with a future electrician having to take down the "artwork." This should satisfy an architects sense of esthetics.
Click to expand...

I spent quite a while trying to find a panel in a house that ended up being behind a piece of art in the living room. The owner wasn't available to tell me where it was.

Other than that, I don't have a problem with it.
 
rc/retired said:
That said, I suppose under the definition of readily accessible, a picture is an object to be removed.
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Ironically, having a panel locked with a key is OK, so long as the person who NEEDS access has a key. But “removing an obstacle” is not. After seeing it somewhere else, maybe even on here some time ago, I have put a hinge on a piece of artwork so that it does not need to be “removed”, and had it pass. I would not, however, guarantee that it would work with every AHJ…
 
charlie b said:
Excellent question!

I have a question for the group: What do you think about hanging a photo or poster over a recessed panel? As long as you still have working clearance, I don't have an issue with a future electrician having to take down the "artwork." This should satisfy an architects sense of esthetics.
Click to expand...
Ha Brilliant!
 
MyCleveland said:
Utility company is ok with meters in the basement?
When you say offices have no room…is that the Architect saying he doesn’t want to see them? You just need 20+ inches of wall space to change 3.5” metal studs to 6”.
Running all the home runs to the basement is messy, or if you want to add something later is a pain.
Click to expand...
Have you found this to be an issue? Honestly, I haven't yet checked with the utility and just assumed they wouldn't have an issue with it.
Flooding does come to mind though, as if there is ever flooding in the basement it's going to destroy the elec. service equipment.
 
designer82 said:
Have you found this to be an issue? Honestly, I haven't yet checked with the utility and just assumed they wouldn't have an issue with it.
Flooding does come to mind though, as if there is ever flooding in the basement it's going to destroy the elec. service equipment.
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The only buildings that I have ever seen it allowed was when the management had an office staffed during normal business hours.
Don’t believe they will allow it if they have to make an appointment to read the meters.

I would definitely run this past them and get your answer in writing.
 
charlie b said:
Excellent question!

I have a question for the group: What do you think about hanging a photo or poster over a recessed panel? As long as you still have working clearance, I don't have an issue with a future electrician having to take down the "artwork." This should satisfy an architects sense of esthetics.
Click to expand...
I had a mirror hanging over the panel in my 1st apartment. It scared away the landlord and he forgot the panel was there.
 
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