Electrical Service Panel In Closet

Rmeier2 robert meier april 16 2018 8 58pm 5.

Electrical service panel in closet.

If a loose connection occurs in your existing electrical panel sparks those simple sparks can easily ignite the clothes hanging in your closet and in a matter of seconds set fire to your entire home. Except when mounted on switchboards or the equivalent which are located in approved rooms or fire proof electric closets overcurrent devices shall be enclosed in approved cabinets or cutout boxes. Rooms circuit breaker boxes may not be installed in bathrooms powder rooms clothes closets or in any room where there is insufficient space for a worker to access and work on the box. With the electrical panel installed on the narrow side wall there might not be required 30 space unless you have a deep clothes closet.

The electrical service panel provides 100 200 or more amps of power to a home. If clearance was kept i don t see a major issue as pictured. If it is on the long wall of the closet all you need is a free 36 of space in front of it 30 in chicago no clothes in the closet for both scenarios. These codes cover the installation and placement of residential circuit breaker boxes including main service panels and subpanels.

Panels are located in utility closets and approved all the time with proper clearances. They shall in all cases be placed in readily accessible locations. Circuit breakers and by implication electrical panels since they contain circuit breakers shall not be located in the vicinity of easily ignitable material such as in clothes closets. Can i install the service panel for a residence in a walk in closet.

The wording is vague as it does not absolutely prohibit a panel in a closet more like just around easily ignited materials. If you have an electrical panel in a closet used to store clothes you re already taking an enormous risk. Power comes into the house from a service drop connects to the service lugs within the service panel and is split into separate circuits throughout the house. According to section 240 24 d of the national electrical code nec which says overcurrent devices shall not be located in the vicinity of easily ignitable material such as in clothes closets you are not permitted to do this.