Clearance Requirements for Breaker Panel

[Diavolicchio]

I read in another thread on here that when installing a breaker panel, you need 36" of working space in front of it and 30" from left to right for the wall space on which it's mounted. Are there are requirements for how high off the ground the breaker panel has to be located?

I'd like to put mine in the back of a long, narrow utility closet in the living space itself, rather than in the garage. The closet is 32" wide and 6'4" deep. My concern is that the back of the closet drops to a high kneewall so the bottom of the panel may be no more than 3'0" from the floor.

Would installing a panel at waist height be against code?

Thanks,


John

 

[Grumpy365]

I think the minimum is 4' and max of 6' 7" too center of main breaker. NEC 240.24.

It is also against code to put a breaker box in a closet.

CHECKED mike holtz forum and they say there is no minimum height ( sorry for the mis-information)

 

[mrb]

as far as i know there is no minimum height, maximum height to a breaker handle is 6'6". The problem you have is you need the greater of the equipment height or 6'6" high in the 30in wide space, so based on that you cant cram the panel in the back of the closet if the ceiling is low.

 

[Diavolicchio]

I just found this in another online forum:

[FONT=Trebuchet MS,Verdana, Arial][FONT=Trebuchet MS,Verdana, Arial]2005 NEC:[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS,Verdana, Arial][FONT=Trebuchet MS,Verdana, Arial] [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS,Verdana, Arial][FONT=Trebuchet MS,Verdana, Arial] 240.24 Location in or on Premises[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS,Verdana, Arial][FONT=Trebuchet MS,Verdana, Arial] (D) Not in Vicinity of Easily Ignitible Material -Overcurrent devices shall not be located in the vicinity of easily ignitible material, such as in clothes closets.[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS,Verdana, Arial][FONT=Trebuchet MS,Verdana, Arial] Examples of locations where combustible materials may be stored are linen closets, paper storage closets, and clothes closets.

[/FONT][/FONT]​

If this is the code, then locating a panel in an open utility closet should be fine, as long as the spatial requirements are meant. It appears that the off-limit places are clothes closets, linen closets, paper storage closets and bathrooms.

If there's a minimum height requirement of 4' to the bottom of the panel, then it's a moot point anyway. Would you mind posting the exact wording though from NEC 240.24 regarding height requirements? Thanks.


John

 

[Norcal]

There is no minimum but there is a maximum height.

240.24 Location in or on Premises.
(A) Accessibility. Overcurrent devices shall be readily accessible
and shall be installed so that the center of the grip
of the operating handle of the switch or circuit breaker,
when in its highest position, is not more than 2.0 m (6 ft 7 in.)
above the floor or working platform, unless one of the following
applies:
(1) For busways, as provided in 368.17(C).
(2) For supplementary overcurrent protection, as described
in 240.10.
(3) For overcurrent devices, as described in 225.40 and
230.92.
(4) For overcurrent devices adjacent to utilization equipment
that they supply, access shall be permitted to be
by portable means.
(B) Occupancy. Each occupant shall have ready access to
all overcurrent devices protecting the conductors supplying
that occupancy, unless otherwise permitted in 240.24(B)(1)
and (B)(2)

NEC 2008 edition

 

[Diavolicchio]

Terrific. That's exactly what I needed. Thanks.


John

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I read in another thread on here that when installing a breaker panel, you need 36" of working space in front of it and 30" from left to right for the wall space on which it's mounted. Are there are requirements for how high off the ground the breaker panel has to be located?

I'd like to put mine in the back of a long, narrow utility closet in the living space itself, rather than in the garage. The closet is 32" wide and 6'4" deep. My concern is that the back of the closet drops to a high kneewall so the bottom of the panel may be no more than 3'0" from the floor.

Would installing a panel at waist height be against code?

Thanks,


John

It would not work in your high kneewall because you have to have a space that is 2 meters high at the face of the panel and for the full 30 inches of width and 36 inches of depth (an area about the size of a refrigerator, but taller). In addition, it cannot be placed in a closet because the code says the panel must be "readily accessible" and that means without having to move anything or use of a ladder, stool, etc.

Charles

 

[thdewey]

I'm glad that this came up. I'm enclosing my carport and the breaker panel is in the utility closet in the back of it. I plan on raising the floor to match the house. So this will effectively lower the the panel to about 3' to the bottom of it. No mimum height. Yeah, that'll save $ not having to move that. Thanks!