panel location - small offices in mixed-use

[designer82]

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?

 

[augie47]

Or provide the tenants with a key

 

[MyCleveland]

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?

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.

 

[charlie b]

When you say offices have no room…is that the Architect saying he doesn’t want to see them?

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.

 

[rc/retired]

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.

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

 

[ChesterDawg]

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.

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.

 

[Jraef]

That said, I suppose under the definition of readily accessible, a picture is an object to be removed.

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…