Yes..............


If you don't install the counter in front of it...............

 

I'm guessing this is not a permitted job? A quick call to your building department would help.

Also, I have the two main inspectors cell numbers. If I can't get in touch with my building dept I call them. They are pretty awesome guys always willing to help out.

 

E3405.1 Working space and clearances. Sufficient access and working space shall be provided and maintained around all electrical equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment in accordance with this section and Figure E3405.1.

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm.

a. Equipment, piping and ducts foreign to the electrical installation shall not be placed in the shaded areas extending from the floor to a height of 6 feet above the panelboard enclosure, or to the structural ceiling, whichever is lower.

b. The working space shall be clear and unobstructed from the floor to a height of 6.5 feet.

c. The working space shall not be designated for storage.

d. Panelboards, service equipment and similar enclosures shall not be located in bathrooms, toilet rooms, clothes closets or over the steps of a stairway.

e. Such work spaces shall be provided with artificial lighting where located indoors.

FIGURE E3405.1a, b, c, d, e WORKING SPACE AND CLEARANCES

E3405.2 Working clearances for energized equipment and panelboards. Except as otherwise specified in Chapters 34 through 43, the dimension of the working space in the direction of access to panelboards and live parts likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing or maintenance while energized shall be not less than 36 inches (914 mm) in depth. Distances shall be measured from the energized parts where such parts are exposed or from the enclosure front or opening where such parts are enclosed. In addition to the 36-inch dimension (914 mm), the work space shall not be less than 30 inches (762 mm) wide in front of the electrical equipment and not less than the width of such equipment. The work space shall be clear and shall extend from the floor or platform to a height of 6.5 feet (1981 mm). In all cases, the work space shall allow at least a 90-degree (1.57 rad) opening of equipment doors or hinged panels. Equipment associated with the electrical installation located above or below the electrical equipment shall be permitted to extend not more than 6 inches (152 mm) beyond the front of the electrical equipment.

E3405.3 Dedicated panelboard space. The space equal to the width and depth of the panelboard and extending from the floor to a height of 6 feet (1829 mm) above the panelboard, or to the structural ceiling, whichever is lower, shall be dedicated to the electrical installation. Piping, ducts, leak protection apparatus and other equipment foreign to the electrical installation shall not be installed in such dedicated space. The area above the dedicated space shall be permitted to contain foreign systems, provided that protection is installed to avoid damage to the electrical equipment from condensation, leaks and breaks in such foreign systems (see Figure E3405.1).

Exception: Suspended ceilings with removable panels shall be permitted within the 6-foot (1829 mm) dedicated space.



36" deep, 30" wide, 6'6" tall.

Which way does the door to the room swing?

 

What code is that ???

 

I have to get you guys a picture of a panel on Monday no space infrony or around, and these guys claimed to be one of the 50 fastest growing construction companies in Canada.

 

2009 IRC

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

2009 IRC

Those clearances are also specified in the 2014 NEC, 110.26, Spaces About Electrical Equipment

 

Canadian Code appears to be similar. But in Metric, so the depth of clear space is 1 metre, or 39 3/8 inches (approx).

 

Door swings outwards. This is a permitted job. Your lucky to have an inspector pick up the phone during work hours. Unfortunately, inspectors dont pick up their phone over here. The only other place for the panel would be in the bedroom, which the owner did not like.

Thanks for the replies!

 

Door swings outwards.

Door swings does not play a part in the clearance.

 

"Door swings don't play a part in clearance" Don't mean to hijack but this goes along with an idea I was playing with for adding a subpanel for my own home shop, which also is garage. Just playing around with some ideas as I remodel my own house.

For one possible location shown in red, with 30x36" clearance shown as a crossed box, I would want to use the door opening into the house for part of my clearance.

The other possible location would be covered by the inward opening side door to outside. Wall space is in very short supply and the side door is the only wall space that won't get something put in front of it.

I only do commercial so my electrical guys just mentioned that might be a consideration but also stated they really don't know.

 

Either location is compliant. The 30" wide requirement can start at the edge of the panel and as long as there is 30" free floor space you are good

 

I could use some clarity. Unlike a hallway on a second floor that will never have furniture as an obstacle, is a closet required if the panel is in a sleeping room to ensure access is never a problem? I want to say no, but I can see how it could be a problem.

 

The NEC doesn't address any issues with movable furniture.

Having said that, I've seen panels in areas you would never expect to present a problem that would take a Navy Seal 3 hours to get to. :laughing: