JDB3
Senior Member
- Location
- San Antonio, Texas
The NEC does not allow an electrical panel on a stairway, but what about a stairway landing, if the clearance requirements are meet? Again code references would be appreciated! Thanks,
Panel on stairway landing
- Thread starter JDB3
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Massachusetts
Here is the actual requirement
Seems like landings would be OK assuming you have the required work space.
For the most part, the NEC is a permissive Code. If it does not state it's a violation then it is allowed. As you mentioned 240.24(F) only prohibits the OCP over stairs, not landings. barring any other problems, you should be good to go.
(sorry, Bob, posted on top of you)
(sorry, Bob, posted on top of you)
JDB3
Senior Member
- Location
- San Antonio, Texas
Thanks guys. Always nice to have other people thoughts on things. 
victor.cherkashi
Senior Member
- Location
- NYC, NY
recently we had 100A circuit breaker installed in staircase. contactor advised us that inspector told him that c.b. should be in 2 hours rated enclosure. now I have doubts.
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Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
In commercial, institutional, or other public access buildings may be a violation of the finish rating of an egress route depending on other circumstances. Stairways are sometimes easy places to run lines between floors, but also need to be protected egress routes in some cases.
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Hospital Master Electrician
Ryan Jackson believes this installation violates 240.24(F). I disagree.
https://m.facebook.com/mikeholtente...450309343/10153414436184344/?type=3&source=48
Edit: I originally threw Holt under the same bus, but realized he was calling it out for 404.8(A).
https://m.facebook.com/mikeholtente...450309343/10153414436184344/?type=3&source=48
Edit: I originally threw Holt under the same bus, but realized he was calling it out for 404.8(A).
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
George I took the liberty to post the pic as it is a interesting question. When does a step become a step-- hold long/wide/etc. View this larger with your browser to see details better. BTW, I can see Ryans response but without knowing the depth of the (step) I may challenge 110.26 but I suspect it is 36" or greater
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
I agree, he's wrong.
There is no problem to solve until there are "steps". As long as the platform, in this case or landing in the OP, meets workspace requirements your good.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I agree even if there were 2 steps and a landing and the landing meets 110.26 I see it as compliant. Now would an inspector see it as a top step.
- Location
- Massachusetts
FWIW Ryan is who submitted the proposal for this code section.
Ride the Lightning
Member
- Location
- danbury, ct.
When in doubt, a phone call to the local inspector would clear this up to get his interpretation. I haven't met an inspector yet who would shun any question you'd have prior to performing your duties. After all, it's his little pond you're swimming in.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
NEC could possibly use a little tweaking of the use of the word stairs here for those that want to look past intent and take things literally as written.
If you had a "stairway" at least 36 inches wide with 30 inch deep treads on the steps and the panel in question is flush mounted in the wall, I don't think you have a violation as each step is also a "platform" that gives you the workspace requirement, just like the landing or even an entire floor of a building is nothing but a large stair tread in perspective to the stairway.
If you had a "stairway" at least 36 inches wide with 30 inch deep treads on the steps and the panel in question is flush mounted in the wall, I don't think you have a violation as each step is also a "platform" that gives you the workspace requirement, just like the landing or even an entire floor of a building is nothing but a large stair tread in perspective to the stairway.
mwm1752
Senior Member
- Location
- Aspen, Colo
George I took the liberty to post the pic as it is a interesting question. When does a step become a step-- hold long/wide/etc. View this larger with your browser to see details better. BTW, I can see Ryans response but without knowing the depth of the (step) I may challenge 110.26 but I suspect it is 36" or greater
I cannot be sure but if those psot are 6x6 then the depth from the building out is maybe 20" -- the depth measured is infront of the panel which if my assumptions are somewhat correct is about 12" for the walkway disconnects. IMHO that is a step not a landing.
The far left disconnect working space appears compliant.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Call it a step if you want but as worded it only applies to stairway steps.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I agree it looks short but pictures can be deceiving. Again when is a step not a step. If the distance was 6' out to the edge of the "step" you would have no question of it being a platform. So at what distance does it become a step. I have to disagree with it being a step
- Location
- Massachusetts
It is not a stairway so it does not apply.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
It is not a stairway so it does not apply.
Yeah you made that point LOL. I posted when you did and it was mentioned above. So when does it become a stairway-- 2 step?
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
I was going to ask about the same thing, how many steps needed before we have a stairway?
- Status