working clearance

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

dcooper

Senior Member
Location
Ma
OK I always look through the code book to find answers, most I've the time I'm pretty good at it.

I had another electrician tell me you CAN NOT put a house panel board inside a closet (with an open door giving you the proper clearance) or behind and access panel ( again, when opened you have the proper access)....
I cant seem to find anything in the book the says you cant do this......

This is always my 'go to' place when i need verification
 
There isn't anything in the NEC that says you can't do that. But let's be clear. The working clearance begins at the front face of the panel. I have often designed small electrical closets that completely hide the panel(s) when the doors are closed, but that provide the required clearance when the doors are open. It is harder with an access panel, as I am not sure what that entails. If you open a door in order to see the panel, but you have to reach in past the wall to get to the front face of the panel, I don't think it complies. A closet is different because it has floor to at least 72 inches high, and when the doors open you can walk past the wall (i.e., step forward a few inches) and still have at least 30 inches of width for the clearance space.
 
jumper said:
I do not understand the other descriptions.
Click to expand...
I envision a long corridor, in the middle of which is a set of double doors. Each door is 78 inches high and 3 feet wide, and the hinges are on the outside edges. When the doors are closed, they are flush with the wall. Behind the doors is a space that is 6 feet wide, one foot deep, and at least 78 inches high. There are two panels side-by-side along the back wall. With the doors closed, there is about 6 inches of space between the panel front faces and the doors. With the doors open, you have working clearance of 6 feet wide, 6-1/2 feet high, and as deep as the corridor is wide (well more than 3.5 feet).

I also envision a door that is about 30 inches by 30 inches, located with its center about 4 feet off the floor. When that door is closed, it is flush with the wall. Open the door and you see a panel behind it. There is an inch or two between the front face of the panel and the door.

The first is OK, and the second is not.

 
charlie b said:
I envision a long corridor, in the middle of which is a set of double doors. Each door is 78 inches high and 3 feet wide, and the hinges are on the outside edges. Behind the doors is a space that is 6 feet wide, one foot deep, and at least 78 inches high. There are two panels side-by-side along the back wall. With the doors closed, there is about 6 inches of space between the panel front faces and the doors. With the doors open, you have working clearance of 6 feet wide, 6-1/2 feet high, and as deep as the corridor is wide (well more than 3.5 feet).
Click to expand...

Maybe, OP said house panel. I was thinking a panel in a house. Your description works in a commercial setting. Hard to see it in a typical dwelling unit. IDK, OP needs to clarify IMO.
 
that's pretty much what I'm saying ..... 6 in clearance when the door is closed and plenty when the door is open......... the access panel would be custom made for the whole size of the panel board
 
Also depends on inspector, if access isn't obstructed may some may let you get away with what might be a little questionable, such as recessed just a couple inches behind access door that is at least as large as the panel, others won't let you get away with anything questionable.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top