Panelboards behind doors

[snarucki]

This is an age-old question that only requires common sense to answer but there seems to be a great lack of it out there.
Is it a NEC violation to locate panelboards so that they will be behind the door to the room or space when the door to the room or space is opened?
Common sense tells us that we certainly don't want to get hit in the rear when working on such a panelboard but is it a violation?

 

[bphgravity]

No, it's not a violation and actually a good location in my opinion.

 

[raider1]

As long as the room isn't a residential bathroom or a clothes closet, and the proper working space clearance is met when the door is open, there is no prohibition to installing a panel behind a door.

P.S. you can install a panel in a clothes closet or bathroom, but you couldn't install any overcurent devices.

Chris

 

[celtic]

Common sense tells us that we certainly don't want to get hit in the rear when working on such a panelboard but is it a violation?

Common sense also tells us to chock the door if you have to work behind it

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Common sense also tells us to chock the door if you have to work behind it

But if the door is a jar, how can it be a door? :roll:

 

[Dennis Alwon]

But if the door is a jar, how can it be a door? :roll:

Simple, a door is not a door when it is ajar.

 

[inspector23]

As long as the room isn't a residential bathroom or a clothes closet, and the proper working space clearance is met when the door is open, there is no prohibition to installing a panel behind a door.

P.S. you can install a panel in a clothes closet or bathroom, but you couldn't install any overcurent devices.

Chris

How you would install a panel behind a door and insure "the proper working space clearance is met when the door is open".???????

 

[iwire]

How you would install a panel behind a door and insure "the proper working space clearance is met when the door is open".???????

Why would the space need to be clear when the door is open?

 

[roger]

How you would install a panel behind a door and insure "the proper working space clearance is met when the door is open".???????

Why would you need proper working clearance when the door was open?

Being behind the door will assure proper working clearance when the door is closed because the residents won't be pilling stuff in front of it when the door is open.

Roger

 

[roger]

Hello Bob.

Roger

 

[infinity]

Why would you need proper working clearance when the door was open?

Being behind the door will assure proper working clearance when the door is closed because the residents won't be pilling stuff in front of it when the door is open.

Roger

Roger has given one of the best reasons to put a panel behind the door. I recently had to climb over a months worth of dirty laundry to get to a panel in a laundry room. Not a pretty site.

 

[celtic]

Not a pretty site.

Why?
Did you split your pants ?
:grin:

 

[dnem]

post #3
P.S. you can install a panel in a clothes closet or bathroom, but you couldn't install any overcurent devices.

"you can install a panel in a bathroom, but you couldn't install any overcurent devices"
True

"you can install a panel in a clothes closet, but you couldn't install any overcurent devices"
That's interpretation. . I don't consider behind the closet door to be in the vicinity of easily ignitible material [240.24(D)]. . Like Roger said:

post #9
Being behind the door will assure proper working clearance when the door is closed because the residents won't be pilling stuff in front of it when the door is open.

The door swing also assures that ignitible material won't be piled in front of the panel.

Check with your inspector and see if he'll approve it in the closet behind the door.

David

 

[raider1]

"you can install a panel in a bathroom, but you couldn't install any overcurent devices"
True

"you can install a panel in a clothes closet, but you couldn't install any overcurent devices"
That's interpretation. . I don't consider behind the closet door to be in the vicinity of easily ignitible material [240.24(D)]. . Like Roger said:



The door swing also assures that ignitible material won't be piled in front of the panel.

Check with your inspector and see if he'll approve it in the closet behind the door.

David

Agreed that the prohibition for a panel behind a door in a clothes closet could be up interpertation. My personal feeling is why risk it, there has got to be a better place to install an electrical panel then behind a door in a clothes closet.

I apologize for my earlier statement about the door needing working space while the door is open, I ment to say as long as you had proper working space while the door was closed. My bad :O

Chris