My electrician put an electric panel in the side wall of the coat closet in the hallway. Then someone told me it's illegal to put a panel in a closet. Is that true?
2007-01-05 13:02:11 · 14 answers · asked by Flingford 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
My electrician put an electric panel in the side wall of the coat closet in the hallway. Then someone told me it's illegal to put a panel in a closet. Is that true?
By the way, I'm in California.
2007-01-05 13:10:58 · update #1
No, it is Not legal in the United States, and has not been legal for many years. The most recent National Electrical Code book, section 240.24(D), specifically prohibits putting an electrical panel in a closet used to store clothes. Local jurisdictions are allowed to adopt their own codes, so long as those codes are at least as restrictive or more strict than the national codes. There are also codes specifying minimum free working space in front of and around the panel. Having a panel in a closet would typically violate these code sections as well.
2007-01-05 13:57:38 · answer #1 · answered by Peachfish Whiskerbiscuit 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It may or may not be against the code, but it certainly is not a good practice. I'm a home inspector and one thing that we write up is if there isn't adequate clearance to a service panel. You should have clearance that is 30" wide, 36" in front, and 6 1/2 ft. vertically from the floor.
If you put a panel in a closet and don't use it for anything else, it may be ok, but who does that? If the lights turn off, you wouldn't be able to access your box in the dark. If a fire started in the service panel, you would be putting flammable items right in front of it. Not a very good idea, eh?
If this is a sub-panel that controls a specific thing (like the air conditioner outside or something) that should be fine, but the main panel shouldn't.
2007-01-05 13:47:50 · answer #2 · answered by DA 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Box Closet
2016-12-15 05:37:49 · answer #3 · answered by fonner 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
california UL starndard says you shall have no obstruction within 16" of the face panel if it has a mechanical cover ( a door) on the box or 24" if it is an open faced panel otherwise it is a fire hazard my advice to you would be do not use as a coat closet but install shelves but be sure to leave the shelf that would be level to the breaker box empty
2007-01-05 13:40:49 · answer #4 · answered by Bert W 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Not that I am aware of , you just can't obstruct it in any way . Most commercial boxes are in some form of closet . . . don't know why they would be restricted in a residential unless they are set behind where clothes would be. Side should be OK , but check with your AJ as code varies per city.
2007-01-05 13:13:01 · answer #5 · answered by kate 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yup yup check your local codes. From the little knowledge I still remember about electrical circuit breaker boxes have to be close to the main wiring thats why you see some circuit boxes in weird places (exposed in a kitchen etc.)
2007-01-05 13:11:24 · answer #6 · answered by rdwoelfe 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's legal here.The Inspector wont sign off if it's not to code.To be an electrician,you gotta know your stuff.I'd trust the electrician.What does your source on the building code do for a living.Final answer,call your local building inspector.
2007-01-05 13:13:19 · answer #7 · answered by boatworker 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
All the states have different regulations. What is legal in one state may not be up to code in another.
2007-01-05 13:09:21 · answer #8 · answered by axenboots 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Was your power shut off by the electric company for work? If so It would have had to be inspected before the linesman "turned the power back on". If it was then you have nothing to worry about.....
2007-01-06 01:28:35 · answer #9 · answered by Sam H 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It depends on where you live. We live in Tennessee and when we purchased our house (ours is in the closet) I asked about it and was told it was not a problem.
2007-01-05 14:12:20 · answer #10 · answered by Julie 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋