Residential dead panel alterations

[Homemedic]

During a recent inspection, I encountered a residential dead panel that had additional fasteners added to the inside of the live portion of the breaker panel. I know that alterations above and beyond the manufactured engineered specifications should not be made. Is there a specific NEC ruling on this. Beyond the obvious, I'd like to be specific when my client asks why this shouldn't be done.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I would want to see the inside before I said you can't do that.

 

[jumper]

I would want to see the inside before I said you can't do that.

Yes I agree.

What truly stumps me is why that hardware could be there in the first place.

I am having a bad vision of a CPT, relay, or such bolted to the cover!

 

[LarryFine]

To me, they seem extremely symmetrical, as if original.

 

[Coppersmith]

Similar alterations would be made if one was installing a listed generator interlock.

 

[al hildenbrand]

. . . I know that alterations above and beyond the manufactured engineered specifications should not be made. Is there a specific NEC ruling on this. Beyond the obvious, I'd like to be specific when my client asks why this shouldn't be done.

Did you photo the other side of the deadfront? If a picture is worth a thousand words, I'd say we're missing another thousand or so words that complete the Story.

 

[jumper]

To me, they seem extremely symmetrical, as if original.

Ugh!

Was not paying attention. Missed the plural hardware reference and did not even see the lower right hand side of pic.

Just saw that hardware in the upper left and thought “huh?”.

 

[LarryFine]

Similar alterations would be made if one was installing a listed generator interlock.

Not to mention putting new guts and cover on an existing enclosure, which I've done more than once.

 

[kwired]

To me, they seem extremely symmetrical, as if original.

I agree, hardware that is present may not be original, but something may have been there and this is just plugging holes now.

It amazes me how many think it is taboo to modify a loadcenter cabinet in any way. If that is what one feels then we may as well throw away KO punches and drilling bits. And how are you supposed to enter some cabinets that you order with no pre formed KO's at all?

 

[jmellc]

That just looks like the dead front retaining screws to me, though different from what I've usually seen. I actually like screws coming through to place cover on them. Then you put nut on and don't have to maneuver a screw into the panel and try to hit right angle.