Electrical code for breaker box clearance...
 

My understanding is there is to be 30" wide clearance in front of the panel, 36" in front of the panel and 6'-6" clearance in height.

Is the 30" centered on the panel or can the panel be somewhere inside that 30" as long as the panel door can open 90*?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1516317310.png

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1516316981.jpg

My interpretation, from your posted illustrations, is that the panel can be anywhere within that 30" space. The gray 18" rectangles in the top illustration represents the width of the panel relative to a 30" space. The panel can be offset to the left, centered, or offset to the right. The lower part of the top illustration shows how three panels, side by side, can use part of each other's clearances to meet the requirement. Notice how the two outside 18" rectangles are not centered within their respective 30" clearances.

In short, the panel does not have to be centered within the 30" clearance.

If it were me, I would take pictures and plans and see an electrical contractor. If it costs some $$$$$ you'll be ahead when it has to be inspected. Your city may also provide that service but locations vary.

When we had solar installed we needed a new breaker panel since ours was 1960 vintage and not legal any longer. The electrical contractor knew exactly what to do and how to install the new panel so when the city inspector came around, he barely glanced at it.

Unfortunately, the panels are in place and we are wrapping up the project. I got there well after drywall, so we can’t move anything.

The problem is the electrician installed them in the wrong location after the first three bldgs.

Where we once planned on installing a wire shelf, we can’t because of the 30” rule.

My thinking is that we can locate the wire shelf on the other side of the panel and maximize the width by pushing the 30” to the other side.

This is what it should look like, but the electrician has installed the panels to close to the wire shelf.

The panel should have been installed were the structured wiring panel is.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1516334600.jpg

Could you mount the wire shelf at 6' 6" and move the brace so it supports the shelf from above?

32 feet from front of panel to my garage door...........Height, no so much......New code?

I’ve thought about that, but the bottom of the angled bracket to support the shelf would need to be at 6’-6”. That would raise the shelf 1’. That might be too high. At least that’s what I’m thinking. I’ll check with the county. They might be ok with that.

Put the brackets 32" apart, 1 on each side of panel. (you need 30") and set the shelf at 6’-6”

Code states the panel can't be in a 'clothes closet'. My local inspector won't allow anything that is meant to hang clothes anywhere near the panel or else to him, it's considered a 'clothes closet' (can't even put a panel in a walk-in closet here). May want to check with your inspector to see what makes an area a 'clothes closet' to them.

Also, why is that panel so close to the floor? Code doesn't have a minimum height requirement but putting it at a childs eye level doesn't seem very smart.

I took that as a pantry shelf/utility closet but you might be right, depends if inspector is a d***.

You could use melamine shelving, can't hang clothes from that.

All first floor units are set up for ADA.

That means the box is lower.

You can’t have anything in the way like jackets. Should be free and clear.

I've never heard of an electrical panel being subject to ADA regulations. That must be something new, if it exists at all. Going to be hiring handicapped electricians?

Get rid of the shelf and your problems are solved.

Are not homeowners expected to reset a breaker without calling an electrician? Not trying to be argumentative, just raising a point as to why the ADA regulation may be correct.

We had an ADA guru check all the plans and he made changes to make sure everything is ADA compliant. I’m not sure if that was one of his items.

The plans are right. It shows a 3’ shelf and a 3’ area for the panel. It’s a ****up by the electrician and wasn’t caught before I got here. Now it’s too late to move the panel and we have to come up with plan B.

Removing the shelf solves the problem, but leaves no place to hang a coat when you enter or leave. It’s an apartment. Gotta put things where you can.

ADA regulations apply to commercial buildings. When he referenced buildings in his original post, as in more than one of them, I assumed these were commercial structures not residential structures.

You can argue the other point that if the panel needs to be at that height, the shelf is way too high.

Buy a bunch of freestanding coat racks?

How did nobody catch this when the panels were first roughed in?

Can you clear up something for me? Please forgive me if I'm completely off the mark.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1516334600.jpg

The picture you posted is of a properly placed panel, correct? The one you have an issue with has the panel (the dark one in the picture) placed closer to the wall where the light switch is located, correct? If my assumptions are correct, why couldn't the shelf be moved further away from the wall, outside the left side limit of the panel clearance, and supported by two angled braces? It would be above the white panel, but is that white panel also under the same clearance requirements?

Don't install shelves until after the inspection.

That’s what my wife said!
The owner is an ass, so I didn’t offer too many solutions.

How was it missed? Lack of supervision by the electrician and former supervisor.

Nobody wants to be on record as having said that but I'll bet a bunch of us thought that...

:D

Code is different from country to country, state to state, but the big one is year to year.
The relevant code would be the year the panel was installed or updated.

^^^This for sure. Half the stuff we do is done after the inspector walks away.

your interpretation of clearance is correct.
closets are a no go for panel placement.
your panel is low, which is a good thing. the switch is set at 48" above finished floor. the top breaker, not the top of the panel, can't be higher than 48" aff
the question i would ask is what is on the other side of that wall. why not rotate the panel to face the other side of the wall.
the communication panel can stay where it is.

The family room is on the other side.

We are going to start the shelf an inch away from the panel towards the washer and dryer. The 30" will start at the panel and go towards the door.

I'll clear a few things up as a ICC Master Code Professional . If this is a ground floor apartment unit it is required by current code to have the disconnect at 48" rather than 6'7" so the owner occupant,if accessible, can disconnect. (I'm not horribly keen on the requirement but it is what the code says)
Regarding the shelving : I'd eliminate the small section in the pic and place melamine shelving (not able to hang cloths) anywhere you'd like other than the 30" clearance in front of the panel. I measure that 30 as on center line of the equipment. Sorry to say that shelving could not go in the area above the panel even if it is low for ADA. Nothing foreign above or below.
If the owner wants something installed after final I wouldn't do it. People are stupid/designs are stupid at times/and litigious at every single turn. The panel and com panel should be in a laundry area design wise IMHO with shelving over the washer dryer on the opposing wall of the entry to the room.

I did this once, but I made darned sure that nothing could ever be placed or hung in front of the panel. There is the letter of the law, and the intent. You want to make sure that the intent is met, for everyone's well being.

The inspector said if I hung the shelf above the panel, it would meet code. After that, he wouldn’t know if someone hung their coats off it, blocking the panel. Of course the coats are easy to remove.

The inspector said if I hung the shelf above the panel, it would meet code? No No and No but not my call/my jurisdiction. Working space clearances go to 6'6"
The whole concept of no hanging is a pet peeve of mine, the panel overheats and possibly sparks right by a whole lot of cotton fire load. The apartment building catches fire and multiple families are on the street and someone's kid has died.
That concept is something you'll never see me on TV trying to explain, nobody dies on my watch regularly comes out of my mouth. Also "no Station Nightclub" on my watch....