Service Panel Working Clearance

[mkgrady]

I looked at a service panel today where I need to add a circuit for a new central A/C system in a home. The home is in MA and we are under the 08 code.

The panel is located above a base cabinet in a second kitchen in the basement. It's worse because it is actually in the corner of the room so you have to climb up on the cabinet to get to the panel. There is another kitchen on the first floor.

Presumably the basement kitchen was added long after the house was built. The house is 30-50 years old. The 100 amp service panel is no more than ten years old. The home owner has lived there only 3 years and he hasn't made any changes.

So the question is: Are there any circumstances that would allow circuits to be added to the panel without violating the working clearance requirements in 110-26?

 

[nakulak]

nope


(jmsho)

 

[dcspector]

So the question is: Are there any circumstances that would allow circuits to be added to the panel without violating the working clearance requirements in 110-26?

Agreed with "nak man".....nope. Did you pull a permit?

 

[mkgrady]

Agreed with "nak man".....nope. Did you pull a permit?

No permit yet. I don't have the job yet (I guess I should have said that).

I'm putting a quote together, so I'm trying to figure out if there are any options other than telling the customer he must remove the base cabinets in the corner where the panel is located.

Of course to do so would be to give up the room as a second kitchen. Something he doesn't want to do unless there is no alternative.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I don't know about where you are but around here if it is existing they would allow you to add to it. What harm would come of adding another breaker? I would certainly check with the AHJ.

 

[JohnJ0906]

No permit yet. I don't have the job yet (I guess I should have said that).

I'm putting a quote together, so I'm trying to figure out if there are any options other than telling the customer he must remove the base cabinets in the corner where the panel is located.

Of course to do so would be to give up the room as a second kitchen. Something he doesn't want to do unless there is no alternative.

Around here, the inspector is going to be VERY interested in a 2nd kitchen. Very likely un-permitted (given the panel location) and also very likely a zoning violation as well.

 

[abe72487]

I agree with Nak Man

 

[mkgrady]

Around here, the inspector is going to be VERY interested in a 2nd kitchen. Very likely un-permitted (given the panel location) and also very likely a zoning violation as well.

Any suggestions on the best way to handle this? Do I give my proposal and stipulate that the home owner must remove the cabinets prior to inspection? Or do I let him know the inspector MAY require cabinet removal after inspection?

I don't want to just walk away from the job because an HVAC contractor that I do business with reffered me, and I want to keep the refferals coming.

 

[JohnJ0906]

Well, the kitchen is considered the difference between a single family and a 2 - family home around here. This can require a zoning varience. Also, the kitchen was probably never inspected, because the panel wouldn't have passed.

I just think a can of worms will be opened as soon as an inspector sees this. The present HO probably didn't have anything to do with it, but will have to deal with it.

I really don't know what to recomend to you, besides letting the HO know that this might be a problem... or not, depending on your laws there.