Trash in electrical panels

[5551scj]

Curious what the NEC has to say about trash, water, moisture and/or litter inside electrical panels.

Thank you!

 

[Little Bill]

I'm allowing this thread since it's only a general question and no DIY.

 

[electrofelon]

There was a thread a bit ago where the OP said he was dinged by an inspector for using a panel as "storage" because he had some spare breakers in there. Don't remember if a code was cited. I can't think of a specific violation besides "neat amd workman like"

 

[GoldDigger]

Breakers sitting loose in panel or mounted to bus as spares?

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

 

[electrofelon]

Breakers sitting loose in panel or mounted to bus as spares?

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

IIRC, in that thread they were loose sitting in bottom of panel cabinet.

 

[Jraef]

Considering that you cannot use electrical working SPACES to store anything, those rules would, in my mind, extend INTO the actual electrical enclosures.

 

[tom baker]

It’s not an issue called out specifically in the NEC, the NEC is an installation standard, not maintenance.

 

[petersonra]

Considering that you cannot use electrical working SPACES to store anything, those rules would, in my mind, extend INTO the actual electrical enclosures.

But it doesn't actually say so.

 

[BillyMac59]

From an electrical maintenance point of view, the practice is, at the least, poor workmanship. It could be a NEC/CEC violation based on a panel being used as a "storage" area. It may be a larger issue from a H&S perspective. Where is the material coming from and who is putting it in the panels? In my factory life, I'm constantly pulling out oil cans, water bottles,WD40, rags, etc from electrical enclosures. Too often, the people who should put a stop to this turn a blind eye to it as "no one's been hurt".

 

[Hv&Lv]

Considering that you cannot use electrical working SPACES to store anything, those rules would, in my mind, extend INTO the actual electrical enclosures.

Not according to the NEC. It says from the opening, not in the opening.

 

[Fred B]

Curious what the NEC has to say about trash, water, moisture and/or litter inside electrical panels.

Thank you!

Trash and debris inside the panel present hazards if flammable products (paper, wood chips, sawdust, ect.) are in there, can also indicate failures of equipment seals or presence of insects or rodents all of which can be a hazard. Some issues described might imply a failure within 110.12(A) also 408.7, moisture present can lead to failure and 110.12(B) issue and indicate 312.2 failures.