Recessed Electrical Panel

[farmaped]

A home inspector recently failed 2 electrical panels in a house garage due to "Improperly Recessed" (60A, 100A ... 120/240VAC). What are the rules / NEC reference / for mounting electrical panels in a residential application. These panel covers' are recessed about 1/2" due to some remodeling. The working space and dedicated spaces referred to in NEC 110.26 are more than adequate. Is the inspector saying the face of the panel cover must be flush or extend from the face of the wall? Is there a specific code reference for this?
Thanks...

 

[NolaTigaBait]

don't know the code refernce...but i think theres a max air gap 1/8 inch

 

[480sparky]

Try 312.3.

 

[NolaTigaBait]

ok, i was close its 1/4 inch...can't i be right one time?

 

[480sparky]

ok, i was close its 1/4 inch...can't i be right one time?

Well, 1/8" would pass..... if the wall is non-combustible.:smile:

 

[BryanMD]

or the panel was mounted to the masonry wall and when the interior wall was built the panel ended up "recessed" with a pretty J channnel opening in the rock all the way around it. (not that I would know where such a thing exists or anything like that)

 

[LarryFine]

You need a really, really big Arlington box extender.

 

[macmikeman]

I think we would be messin with the dedicated space in front of the panel by about 1/4" or so.

 

[farmaped]

Thanks. Sure enough 312.3.
So, two questions.
1. House was built in 1983. Was this the code in 1983?
2. Is there a solution, other than the hard one (demo a finished wall, expose the cabinet, and hope it can be re-mounted 1/2" out, re-finish the wall)?

 

[ultramegabob]

as long as it isnt back to back with the meter base or piped in with conduit, you should be able to just unscrew the panel and pull it out flush and re-secure it.