Structured Wiring Panel in Clothes Closet

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Dave0903

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I know a receptacle is allowed in a clothes closet. I also know a service panel
cannot be put there.

Question;

Can a structured wiring panel/cabinet be put in a clothes closet?
It has a single GFCI receptacle inside and a steel door on the front. Inside
the cabinet would at the very least be a video splitter/amp and a router.
The adaptors for these would be powered off of the receptacle.

Thanks
 
There's nothing saying it can't, so it can.

The cable, phone, or data guy will curse you every time he has to work on it, though.
 
In the absolute strictest reading of 110.26 - it would not be allowed. As it is likely to be "equipment operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized". The code does not say between 120-600v.... Phone and data could qualify in the broad general definition of equipment, and energized without a means of disconnect. FYI a ringing phone line will give you a nasty litlle shock. And in the past, I have had one inspector not allow it in a closet, and have not done it since. But many will allow it. (Not seeing it as a safety issue.) But the people examining, servicing, or maintaining it while energized later will hate you.

110.26 Spaces About Electrical Equipment.
Sufficient access and working space shall be provided and maintained about all electric equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment. Enclosures housing electrical apparatus that are controlled by lock and key shall be considered accessible to qualified persons.
Key to understanding 110.26 is the division of requirements for spaces about electrical equipment in two separate and distinct categories: working space and dedicated equipment space. Working space generally applies to the protection of the worker, and dedicated equipment space applies to the space reserved for future access to electrical equipment and to protection of the equipment from intrusion by nonelectrical equipment. The performance requirements for all spaces about electrical equipment are set forth in the first sentence. Storage of materials that blocks access or prevents safe work practices must be avoided at all times.
(A) Working Space. Working space for equipment operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground and likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized shall comply with the dimensions of 110.26(A)(1), (2), and (3) or as required or permitted elsewhere in this Code.
The intent of 110.26(A) is to provide enough space for personnel to perform any of the operations listed without jeopardizing worker safety. These operations include examination, adjustment, servicing, and maintenance of equipment. Examples of such equipment include panelboards, switches, circuit breakers, controllers, and controls on heating and air-conditioning equipment. It is important to understand that the word examination, as used in 110.26(A), includes such tasks as checking for the presence of voltage using a portable voltmeter.
Minimum working clearances are not required if the equipment is such that it is not likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized. However, ?sufficient? access and working space are still required by the opening paragraph of 110.26.
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Commentary not part of code.
 
e57 said:
In the absolute strictest reading of 110.26 - it would not be allowed.
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I agree....if Article 110 applies at all to this structured wiring.

If it is covered in Chapter 8 it is not subject to Article 110.
 
iwire said:
I agree....if Article 110 applies at all to this structured wiring.

If it is covered in Chapter 8 it is not subject to Article 110.
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I was always under the impression that all this tele-date-catv stuff was under chapter 8, and only 800.5, 820.5 and all the other 8x0.5's would apply with regard to access? No?

It would also not conform to ANSI/TIA/EIA- 569 standards
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True, but they don't have the force of law.
 
Mike Holt in his graphics on 110.26 states that telephone and LV equipment is not electrical equipment and does not belong in the electrical working space.

Also 90.3 states that Chapter 8 is not subject to the rules in chapter 1-7
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
Many burgler alarms are in the master bedroom closet.They both can be unpluged for service (disconnect) so other than hard place for service i think its fine.
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Wouldn't those be Article 725 and therefore subject to 110.26?
 
The structured wiring cabinet is probably on the order of a burgular alarm in the closet.

Thanks for the replies.

>> Dave
 
Dave0903 said:
The structured wiring cabinet is probably on the order of a burgular alarm in the closet.
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You might already have settled on what your design will be, but I thought it would be important to clear something up. The alarm panel and the structured wiring panel are different in the eyes of the code, as they are covered in seperate sections. The structured wiring panel does not have the working space rules, and the alarm panel does. That said, the working space rules for the alarm panel are often overlooked, as they are commonly mounted in closets when the dwelling has no basement.
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
Many burgler alarms are in the master bedroom closet.They both can be unpluged for service (disconnect) so other than hard place for service i think its fine.
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That's not the worst place I've ever had to work in for the installation of a panel. In a residence, yes that is a favorite (though anywhere that is out of site and won't be a nuisance to the homeowner is where it is normally wanted, as close to the ceiling as possible too).

As for commercial locations, 15 foot in the air is not an unusual request, the same is true for routers and telecom equipment and the smartjacks. (Although in a commercial environment this is both a blessing and a curse. You do need a ladder to do your work, however you normally don't have to worry about someone messing with your equipment later, for the same reason.)
 
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