Subpanel location.

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emf10

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I'm installing a subpanel into a single family dwelling finished basement. I have two choices for the location of a 100A subpanel, to the left of the main panel or below the main panel. There will be a wall built in front of the panels about 1 ft out. The wall will have double doors so when open the 3ft depth requirement will be satisfied for the main panel (The width of the doors will be 60"+ with nothing in between them). If the subpanel is installed immediately to the left of the main panel, the leftmost 3"-5" of the subpanel will only have 1ft of depth even with the doors open. Would this violate 110.26 or any other code if the subpanel door can still be opened 90deg and it's breakers have 3+ ft of clear space in front of them? Or could/should it be installed directly below the exisiting main panel (which is 55" from the floor to the bottom of the panel)?
 
This sounds like a closet the way its described. If an inspector sees it that way the clearances won't matter :wink:
 
The clearance can be measured in a variety of ways.



Some inspectors don't like doors, others prefer them. Before starting, I'd check with the AHJ.
 
Re: Subpanel location.

emf10 said:
I'm installing a subpanel into a single family dwelling finished basement. I have two choices for the location of a 100A subpanel, to the left of the main panel or below the main panel. There will be a wall built in front of the panels about 1 ft out. The wall will have double doors so when open the 3ft depth requirement will be satisfied for the main panel (The width of the doors will be 60"+ with nothing in between them). If the subpanel is installed immediately to the left of the main panel, the leftmost 3"-5" of the subpanel will only have 1ft of depth even with the doors open. Would this violate 110.26 or any other code if the subpanel door can still be opened 90deg and it's breakers have 3+ ft of clear space in front of them? Or could/should it be installed directly below the exisiting main panel (which is 55" from the floor to the bottom of the panel)?
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Put it below.Work clearance is for all of the panel not just the breakers
 
George is showing 36 inches width for the panels. I am sure that is a slight oversight, as the minimum width is 30 inches, with the minimum depth being 36 inches.
Panels can be installed in shallow closets, as long as the door opening provides the MINIMUM clearances, and the closet is not used for "ignitable" storage.
In the OP's case here, with the sidebyside installation, that is not permitted, as part of the panel is not accessible. The top and bottom installation as explained is permitted.
There may be local codes that do not permit this, so be sure to check local codes as well. 110.26(A)
 
emf10 wrote:
I'm installing a subpanel into a single family dwelling finished basement. I have two choices for the location of a 100A subpanel, to the left of the main panel or below the main panel. There will be a wall built in front of the panels about 1 ft out. The wall will have double doors so when open the 3ft depth requirement will be satisfied for the main panel (The width of the doors will be 60"+ with nothing in between them). If the subpanel is installed immediately to the left of the main panel, the leftmost 3"-5" of the subpanel will only have 1ft of depth even with the doors open. Would this violate 110.26 or any other code if the subpanel door can still be opened 90deg and it's breakers have 3+ ft of clear space in front of them? Or could/should it be installed directly below the exisiting main panel (which is 55" from the floor to the bottom of the panel)?

If that wall hasn't been built yet, couldn't doors be placed 6" further to the left and have enough room for both panels to have clearance?
 
dlhoule said:
If that wall hasn't been built yet, couldn't doors be placed 6" further to the left and have enough room for both panels to have clearance?
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Unfortunately there is already another new wall in the way which ends about 1 ft out from the panels. It's perpendicular to the wall which will be built .

I guess it must go underneath. Since it will be installed lower than normal would the NM cable leaving the subpanel be required to be protected from mechanical damage?

btw, around here for residential, inspectors let us get away with leaving the top area of panelboards unprotected from mechanical damage. Also I see this for conduit which runs into a box near the ceiling. A few inches of NM romex will not be protected from mechanical damage between the box and ceiling drywall. I didn't see anything in the NEC which specifically allows for this. Is there a specific height above which unprotected NM is allowed?
 
emf10 said:
Since it will be installed lower than normal would the NM cable leaving the subpanel be required to be protected from mechanical damage?
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6" when penetrating a floor. You could eliminate the whole issue with short nipple(s) between panels and just pull through the top panel to the sub. Its pretty hard to blow the 70% fill deal on a panel.
 
Pierre C Belarge said:
George is showing 36 inches width for the panels. I am sure that is a slight oversight, as the minimum width is 30 inches, with the minimum depth being 36 inches.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the correction - I was in slam-bam hurry mode when I slapped that together. :)

All in all, I think it took me 5 minutes from inspiration to "Submit Reply". On my way to work this morning, this popped into my head and I was expecting more of a buzz about it. :D
 
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