How is this related to fire inspection and insurance rates?
2007-08-11 15:30:27 · 9 answers · asked by MeredithJ 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
How is this related to insurance?
2007-08-11 15:39:50 · update #1
How this this related to insurance?
2007-08-19 07:59:04 · update #2
If a fuse goes out, and you don't have any lights, it will be hard to find a key to open it.
Also, if there is a fire, and the fire department needs to turn off the power, they may not be able to open the box if you have the key somewhere else.
2007-08-11 15:37:25 · answer #1 · answered by Matt 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Businesses usually have their electric panels locked to prevent tampering. This is not a requirement for most residential units. I have not heard of an Insurance Company or Fire Department or Electrical Inspection Department inspection report insist or suggest that the Electric Panel to be locked on a residential unit.
The only cases for Locked Electric Panels on residential ares for Central Electric Supplies for Condos, appartments, and other Multi - residential complexes which are supplied from a central Electric Supply - Electrical Vault and/or Electrical Room.
Even the individual units do not have lockable Electric Panels.
You may find the Main Switch and the Electric meter inside in some localities are locked . This Main Switch and the Electric meter would be the property of the Company which supplies the Electricity to the residience.
Most of these have been removed as most Electric Supplies do not own the Main Switch any more and the Meters have been moved outside.
In Ontario they started to transfer ownership of the Main Switch to the property owner and move the Meter Bases to the outside of the premisses in the 1960's.
Another case may be if a residence has a large battery backup room. The Battery Room would likely require fireproofing with Locked Fire rated doors. Very rare.
Clarrification: about the need of the fire department to access the Fuse (Breaker) Panel.
All of you who have answered this question and said the fire department has to access the fuse panel to turn the power off. Not correct.
They still cannot use water around the panel if the power is switched off at the panel.
The is still live wires inside the panel coming from the meter base.
The Fire department usually puts an emergency call out to the company which distributes the power to the premisses. They cut the power off at the transformer or street. This way the fire department has no restrictions of water use because the municipal electric supply.
2007-08-19 21:44:32 · answer #2 · answered by Comp-Elect 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They keep electric panel boxes locked in public places and factory's for safety reasons, and they have a lock made in the panel box. In your home they are about 4 ft. above the floor which is high enough so a small child can not reach the breakers. Outside the meter is about 5 ft off of the ground, or about eye level so the meter reader can stand in front of the meter and read it easy.(this is standard height.......in the State electrical code book)
2007-08-19 21:26:28 · answer #3 · answered by book writer 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on the type of fuse panel or breaker box it is, it may be because there is the rare possiblity of an arc flash occuring so if it were to happen the box door can fly open freely, as opposed to the box just blowing up if locked.
2007-08-19 11:05:54 · answer #4 · answered by mundane_noodle 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where are you? I've never heard of any rule keeping you from locking your fuse panel in the US. The fire fighters disconnect your power outside, not inside the house.
2007-08-13 23:22:15 · answer #5 · answered by John himself 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you house has a fire the first thing the fire brigade do is pull your fuses and turn your mains power off. Also to have your meter read if your not home the meter box needs to be unlocked. Your meter box should be fit high enough according to building standards so young children can't reach.
2007-08-11 22:36:54 · answer #6 · answered by thegreenjumper 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Let's say Tim the toolman is working on your dishwasher, he may need to access the fuse panel to turn off the breaker.
If you need to make sure a certain breaker is not turned off there are single locks you can put on them. if theis panel is outside I see the issue and the insurance and fire would probably prefer it be locked...
2007-08-11 22:41:18 · answer #7 · answered by Uncle Red 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have never heard of it's being an issue either on a fire inspection, of being an insurance company concern. Many branch circuit panels (as they are called) in industry are kept locked..
Reasons for not locking them would be to be able to disconnect a circuit in a hurry, and the possibility of not being able to find the key.
The reason for locking them would be to keep finger pokers from messing with them.
2007-08-11 22:41:25 · answer #8 · answered by Ed 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If you can't get into it quickly, and there is a fire, water can't be used on it. The possibility of electrocution is too high.
If you have a main switch on the outside of the box, then it is okay.
2007-08-19 20:10:09 · answer #9 · answered by jim1965_99 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋