load centers in laundry room - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

masterelect1070 · 10-04-2007, 11:11 PM

what is min distance load centers or panelboards can be to water, and what section of the code is it in? 230?

Speedy Petey · 10-05-2007, 05:41 AM

I'm not sure why even some electricians think there is an issue with the proximity of panels and equipment to water. I even see this question with regard to water pipes. Although I must say I mostly see these questions from DIY'ers and home inspectors.

There is NO distance requirement to water or a water source, or to plumbing.
You only need to meet the minimum working clearances in 110.26.

fridaymean · 10-05-2007, 04:10 PM

Can't remember the #, but I thought you could not put a panel in a room where there was a sink or laundry tub? Is this true, or did I dream it?

mdshunk · 10-05-2007, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fridaymean

Can't remember the #, but I thought you could not put a panel in a room where there was a sink or laundry tub? Is this true, or did I dream it?

There might be something in the Chicago code, but the only prohibited locations in the NEC are clothes closets and dwelling unit bathrooms. It's compliant to put a panel in a commercial (non dwelling) bathroom.

fridaymean · 10-05-2007, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdshunk

There might be something in the Chicago code, but the only prohibited locations in the NEC are clothes closets and dwelling unit bathrooms. It's compliant to put a panel in a commercial (non dwelling) bathroom.

No. No. I was talking in dwellings. I don't see Chicago much. You hit on what I was thinking.

te12c02w · 10-06-2007, 08:09 AM

On Thursday I had a trouble call on a residence that is no older than 3 or 4 years. This place cannot have been inspected. The loadcenter was in the "laundry room" which was in the bathroom. Bifold doors opened to the bath room. Is that a violation? Had to squeeze by the washer to get to the panel. Pretty sloppy in the panel. Only one appliance circuit for the kitchen, plus some other small violations. Figured out the home run to living room circuit is bad somewhere. Have to go back next week to replace the home run.

mdshunk · 10-06-2007, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by te12c02w

On Thursday I had a trouble call on a residence that is no older than 3 or 4 years. This place cannot have been inspected. The loadcenter was in the "laundry room" which was in the bathroom. Bifold doors opened to the bath room. Is that a violation?

Wow, that's really borderline. With these open floor plans people favor now, there dones't necessarily need to be walls and doors to delineate "rooms". What you describe could be a "laundry room" and a "bathroom" seperated by bifolds. I'd rather call it a "laundry area" within the bathroom. I'd say that panel was in the bathroom, myself, but I can see a building department official going either way on that one.

JohnJ0906 · 10-06-2007, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by te12c02w

Had to squeeze by the washer to get to the panel.

That in itself sounds like a 110.26 violation off the bat.

I'm with Marc - to me that panel is in a bathroom. I think the humidity levels would still be an issue.

macmikeman · 10-07-2007, 02:43 PM

I have been stung with the old "too close to a water source" myth myself once. Put a panel in a laundry room near to a laundry tray, (not encroaching the dedicated panel clearance space). Now around here, you don't bitch too much about stuff like that or you get "troublemaker" sewn onto your lapel.( I do my bitching on electrical forums instead ) So the fix was to cap off the laundry tray plumbing until after final was done. Not sure if that tray ever got put in or not...

Speedy Petey · 10-07-2007, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macmikeman

Now around here, you don't bitch too much about stuff like that or you get "troublemaker" sewn onto your lapel.

OH lovely!

I thought this was the USA, and we stand up for what we know is right. If we can't even question authority I quit!

747 · 10-07-2007, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdshunk

There might be something in the Chicago code, but the only prohibited locations in the NEC are clothes closets and dwelling unit bathrooms. It's compliant to put a panel in a commercial (non dwelling) bathroom.

My fuse box is located in the closet of the guest bedroom. There is definately clothes around. Matter of fact on the other side of that wall is the electric meter. Its a interior exterior load bearing wall. The fuse box sits on the interior exterior load bearing but the rest of the closet doesn't if that makes sense. In the closet there is like 3 feet of wall thats where it is then the rest of the closet goes the other direction.

mdshunk · 10-07-2007, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 747

My fuse box is located in the closet of the guest bedroom. There is definately clothes around. Matter of fact on the other side of that wall is the electric meter. Its a interior exterior load bearing wall. The fuse box sits on the interior exterior load bearing but the rest of the closet doesn't if that makes sense. In the closet there is like 3 feet of wall thats where it is then the rest of the closet goes the other direction.

That might have been legal at the time it was originally installed. When you get a service upgrade, something different will need to be done with that. You mentioned you were on fuses, so when you upgrade to breakers down the road, the'll have to put the box someplace else.

macmikeman · 10-07-2007, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedy Petey

OH lovely!

I thought this was the USA, and we stand up for what we know is right. If we can't even question authority I quit!

Well Petey, technically where I live is in the USA, but it ain't exactly always like it is over there where you live.... but that is not a story for here.

Sparky Joe · 10-07-2007, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macmikeman

Well Petey, technically where I live is in the USA, but it ain't exactly always like it is over there where you live.... but that is not a story for here.

I don't know what 'troublemaker' nametag could do to one who's installations are always to code. Pats on the back should not be common place when it comes to construction inspections. Contractors should not have to bend over, pull sneaky stuff, or take inspectors to lunch to get their building complete. The rules of the game are written down and everyone has to play by them.

randomkiller · 10-07-2007, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparky Joe

I don't know what 'troublemaker' nametag could do to one who's installations are always to code. Pats on the back should not be common place when it comes to construction inspections. Contractors should not have to bend over, pull sneaky stuff, or take inspectors to lunch to get their building complete. The rules of the game are written down and everyone has to play by them.

Right on bro, I have complained about inspectors to DCA in the past when I knew I was right. It all works out in the end.

goose134 · 10-10-2007, 07:58 PM

Oh I wish I still had the picture my buddy sent me a while back. 100 amp panel behind one of the swinging vanity mirrors in a bathroom. Right over the sink! Unbelievable!

Celtic · 10-10-2007, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goose134

Oh I wish I still had the picture my buddy sent me a while back. 100 amp panel behind one of the swinging vanity mirrors in a bathroom. Right over the sink! Unbelievable!

Something like this beauty

(I'm talking about JUST the panel location! LOL)

Sparky Joe · 10-11-2007, 05:16 PM

That'd be nice; use the bathroom in the morning still half asleep, go to grab the toothpaste and get live bus instead.

Wouldn't need any coffee that morning

JohnJ0906 · 10-11-2007, 05:22 PM

That woman is thinking, "Why is this person taking a picture of an electrical panel?"

I know because people look at me that way whenever I take a picture of weird electric!

Speedy Petey · 10-11-2007, 07:22 PM

She's saying: "This isn't going to end up on the internet, is it?"