Residential Electrical Panel Placement

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Russ Miozzi

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Cleveland Ohio
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Electrical Contractor
Is it a code violation if you place an electrical panel behind a door in a bedroom? I would assume it would not be good practice but I can not find anything specific in the NEC to prohibit this.
 
Perfectly fine and is a good place to put it, keeps people from putting stuff in front of it.

Roger
 
Definitely debatable and not clearly spelled out in code. As an inspector if it's shown on the plans (meaning it was allowed through plan check) then I feel like I can't enforce it. If it's not shown on plans then I use "working space" as a justification for denying the location, which has typically meant changing the door swing if possible. I have several electrician friends who hate that kind of placement because it is hazardous if they have to work on it, someone could open the door from the other side while they are working. One friend actually charges extra if the work is being performed under hazardous conditions, he will actually take the door off of the hinges to work if needed. Home owners and designers think that is the best possible location for a subpanel and design specifically for that. In fact a couple designers starting showing the sub-panel location behind doors because they know I'll call it out in the field, and that the BO will most likely allow it shown on the plans. He's my boss though so what can I say. Also in reality, there are far larger fish to fry out there. This is not a battle I fight hard for...
 
Joe.B said:
Definitely debatable and not clearly spelled out in code.
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It's not spelled out because it's not an issue. If the panel needs to be worked on the door can be closed and locked, problem solved.
Joe.B said:
As an inspector if it's shown on the plans (meaning it was allowed through plan check) then I feel like I can't enforce it. If it's not shown on plans then I use "working space" as a justification for denying the location, which has typically meant changing the door swing if possible.
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If there is proper working space with the door closed what's the problem.
Joe.B said:
I have several electrician friends who hate that kind of placement because it is hazardous if they have to work on it, someone could open the door from the other side while they are working.
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Once again, they can lock or chock the door. There were a lot of things I didn't like doing (crawling through an attic for example) but if it was part of the job I did it.
Joe.B said:
One friend actually charges extra if the work is being performed under hazardous conditions, he will actually take the door off of the hinges to work if needed. Home owners and designers think that is the best possible location for a subpanel and design specifically for that. In fact a couple designers starting showing the sub-panel location behind doors because they know I'll call it out in the field, and that the BO will most likely allow it shown on the plans. He's my boss though so what can I say. Also in reality, there are far larger fish to fry out there. This is not a battle I fight hard for...
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I would be forcing a code article to be cited.

Roger
 
I also agree its not an issue.

If you don't feel panels can be behind doors then most panelboards don't comply. Most are installed in metal cabinets with doors. :ROFLMAO:

I have had inspectors during rough ask GC's to use a privacy lock on the bedroom doors to prevent someone from opening the door while working on the panel. Most bedrooms get privacy locks anyway so not really a point to argue one way or the other.
 
I agree with others about panels behind doors being a great location, how many of you have to deal with debris piled in front of one because it was a good spot to dump stuff? Being behind a door eliminates that.
 
Joe.B said:
If it's not shown on plans then I use "working space" as a justification for denying the location, which has typically meant changing the door swing if possible..
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roger said:
I would be forcing a code article to be cited.
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Would you accept Roger's door lock logic, or force him to eat crow?
NEC 90.4 said:
The authority having jurisdiction for enforcement of the Code has the responsibility for making interpretations of the rule..
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I don't make a big deal of it and have let many go without complaint. There are far more important issues out there and I don't personally feel like it would be doing anybody any good to make a stink over something relatively minor. To answer the OP I mentioned "Working Space" as the only possible code reference that could be used to say it's not permitted. When it's not shown on plans then I am having a discussion with the builder early on in the rough framing process to discuss possible locations. I shouldn't have said "deny" because in reality it's a discussion. The homeowner is typically the one pushing for the behind the door location. If there were truly nowhere else to put it, I let it go. If I were pressed to provide justification for relocation that's the section of code I would use.
 
Joe.B said:
To answer the OP I mentioned "Working Space" as the only possible code reference that could be used to say it's not permitted.
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I think the consensus is that a door does not encroach working space, unless the door must be open while servicing the panel.
 
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