Panelboard in Dedicated Electrical Closet 110.26-A-1

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cyriousn

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Location
ME / CT
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EE & BIM
An architect I'm working with has given me "electrical closets" in the garage for my panelboards. The width of the closets are over 30" but the depth of closets only go 2' and then there are double swining doors to the garage. Are the doors considered to be in the "working space" even though they would be open and out of the way while the panel would be serviced? If they are okay would they to be made of non-combustible materials?
 
If the doors in front of the equipment, when open, allow the required working space and depth, IMHO I would think that it would be ok. Not necessarily a design I would want.

Pete
 
We do this and the closets are often only 12 to 18 inches deep.

I would much rather a this set up then a flush mounted panel in a finished wall.
 
Thanks for all the input/advice! Yeah those darn architect's dont like the way the panels look :( I like the idea of having the smoke detector in there.
 
iwire said:
For us it often also requires a smoke detector and remote LED over the door.
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Bob, it would be good idea and might be a local issue. Also we best point out that 30 inches is the min. It might be wider depending on equipment. Since he said room is 30 inches no problem but he better make sure it is 30 inches after drywall.
 
The width from finish wall to finish wall will be 3'-11" according to my trusty Revit Model. The sad part of all of this is that once everything is installed the owner is going to store his junk in there.
 
If I was inspecting this scenario, I would treat it the same as a panel behind a door swing and would not consider the door to be a storage item in the required clear working space. In fact, a panel behind the door swing is a good way to keep things from being stored in front of the panel because you could not open the door.
 
cyriousn said:
The width from finish wall to finish wall will be 3'-11" according to my trusty Revit Model. The sad part of all of this is that once everything is installed the owner is going to store his junk in there.
Click to expand...

Can you honestly say if it was your house you would not do the same ? Yes it is violation but often done. As i have had many inspectors tell me, they only need no violations at time of inspection. Let ink dry first. And in reality do we not violate that rule when we are standing in front of it ?
 
I would never knowingly violate the code in such a manner....:)

Good point though, it's almost impossible to keep stuff out of there.
 
iwire said:
I would much rather a this set up then a flush mounted panel in a finished wall.
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I wouldn't mind it. I was referring to architects trimming down an actual mechanical electrical room that has water heaters and other equipment in it.

I'm slowly beating into their heads that I need room to place things and if they don't provide it, I'm forced to do things like mounting a panel in a finished wall somewhere else.
 
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