Subpanels in walk-in closets

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jeff48356

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Livonia, Michigan
Suppose a room addition is built onto a house, and it includes a master bedroom, walk-in closet, and master bathroom with laundry. Since it requires a significant number of circuits, they decided to wire a subpanel for the addition. Would the subpanel be allowed to be installed inside of the walk-in closet, behind the door?
 
Here is the code section
240.24(D) Not in Vicinity of Easily Ignitible Material. Overcurrentdevices shall not be located in the vicinity of easily ignitible
material, such as in clothes closets.
Click to expand...
 
You could argue that behind the door would not be "in the vicinity", but it would be a tough sell. Especially if someone put hooks on the back of the door. :)

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If you read the code section it is allowed, and there's no reason it should not be allowed.

Furthermore, you can't put a panel in a close closet because it might be in the presence of easily ignitible material, but you can turn it around in the same wall and face it in the garage where nobody ever puts anything ignitible.

Beam me up Scotty....
 
Personally, I think a panel behind a door is one of the best locations for them as objects restricting access are not likely to be piled in front of it.
 
ActionDave said:
If you read the code section it is allowed, and there's no reason it should not be allowed.

Furthermore, you can't put a panel in a close closet because it might be in the presence of easily ignitible material, but you can turn it around in the same wall and face it in the garage where nobody ever puts anything ignitible.

Beam me up Scotty....
Click to expand...
In a garage wall opposite a living space usually does not work as the wall is fire rated. Sure you can surface mount or other treatment to get the fire rating.
 
Sierrasparky said:
In a garage wall opposite a living space usually does not work as the wall is fire rated. Sure you can surface mount or other treatment to get the fire rating.
Click to expand...

Easily ignitable materials is what we are talking about here. Ever seen any in a garage? How about behind the door of a closet? Go light a propane torch and hold it up to every thing that is behind the door in your closet and then do the same thing in your garage, keep a list and let us all know where you find the most things that catch on fire and the length of time it took to ignite them.
 
I actually started to write a proposal to eliminate the word "such as in clothes closets". and I realized the cmp members are probably thinking of clothes hooks etc. Even if the panel is behind a door someone is likely to add some clothing hooks for robes etc. I am guessing that is where they are coming from. When I thought about that scenario I decided against writing the proposal (public input).
 
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