Pigtailing in Breakbox because of double tapped circuits

[Matt1919]

Email 1
To reputable home inspector
I have a client who has double tapped wires going into a breaker (on a breaker that does not allow double tapping) . I presented the following solutions to my client today in order of least expensive to high.

1. Pigtail in breaker box
2. Tandem breakers if manufacture allows (if box allows and circuit overloaded)
3. Replace panel (100 Amp to 200 Amp)

After I propose the above 3 options I was chatting with an electrician, he said you should not do pigtails in the breaker box (he said they should be outside the panel in junction box). He provided the following code sections see attachments. Would you agree?

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aui-dmVfvbqtgap4vW8aENp0Bq01Kg?e=4NWMfe
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aui-dmVfvbqtgap520mnt1eY9JvDdg?e=X8r8Kv

Email 2
From reputable home inspector
Hi Matt,

No, I do not agree. Splices in a panel are fine, and they always have been fine.

The code section your electrician gave you just says you can't have splices in the panel unless everything complies with 312.8. So what does 312.8 say?

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aui-dmVfvbqtgap6Wtt9xpSQ-WVeCA?e=Ts6gUb
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aui-dmVfvbqtgap78jsnHEqTei2_QQ?e=p0Rm0F

In other words, you can't completely fill a panel with a bazillion splices. But the amount of fill added to a panel by pigtailing a circuit breaker is practically nothing. In short, this is perfectly fine.

Question
My question is simply is pigtails on breaker box permissible? If there is anything else that should be discussed I am open to that too. I am asking from code perspective not "oh you will be fine".

 

[infinity]

I'm allowing this thread to give the poster some professional opinions.

Pig-tailing in a panel is fine and is code compliant. Many read section 312.8 and stop before the end hence the confusion. Given the generous fill percentages allowed by the NEC it is impossible to exceed them. All three options listed are acceptable.

 

[LarryFine]

Question
My question is simply is pigtails on breaker box permissible? If there is anything else that should be discussed I am open to that too. I am asking from code perspective not "oh you will be fine".

Welcome to the forum.

Answer: ". . . the amount of fill added to a panel by pigtailing a circuit breaker is practically nothing. In short, this is perfectly fine."

It would be almost impossible to intentionally fill a panel wire space to 40%.

 

[Matt1919]

I'm allowing this thread to give the poster some professional opinions.

Pig-tailing in a panel is fine and is code compliant. Many read section 312.8 and stop before the end hence the confusion. Given the generous fill percentages allowed by the NEC it is impossible to exceed them. All three options listed are acceptable.

Thank you!!!!! I appreciate your quick reply!

 

[Matt1919]

Welcome to the forum.

Answer: ". . . the amount of fill added to a panel by pigtailing a circuit breaker is practically nothing. In short, this is perfectly fine."

It would be almost impossible to intentionally fill a panel wire space to 40%.

Thank you Larry! I appreciate you taking the time to chime in.

 

[texie]

The OP should also be aware that some breakers are approved for 2 conductors. I seen many cases where a HI has flagged 2 conductors on a breaker that are clearly allowed.

 

[electrofelon]

Also it should be noted that article 404 rarely applies to panelboards, so those arguments go in the garbage (see the scope of article 404). Even if it did it references 312.8 which specifically allows it.

 

[macmikeman]

You actually can reach a 75% fill capacity in a cross section of a panel or enclosure for overcurrent devices (meter/main disconnect).
PV guys do this a lot. Using either Dukypers or three hole Polaris connectors on the feeders of a panel to tap in a pv system, or more often inside a meter/main to do the same. With old meter/ main enclosures rated 100 amp from the fifties or sixties there wasn't much room in those cans for the actual original feeders let alone a second set of same size conductors and the big Polaris devices X 3 or 4 conductors being tapped off . But for regular wire nut connections, I agree about the 75% issue never being reached in the real world.

 

[Fred B]

Other issue I've seen eating up gutter space in like the old SD panels is by their really oversized (compared with other mfg's) AFCI/GFCI with the pigtails. Those devises also have to enter into consideration when looking at fill for older panels. Once they're in not much room along the sides for wiring. The newer PON panels and some mfg's have the AFCI/GFCI same size as standard breakers, leaving much more gutter space.
But for code compliance as a general rule, splice in the panel box is perfectly acceptable and sometimes a better option compared to others.