Garage Electrical Panel Clearance from Windows

[seedtime]

The walls for my new detached 24x40 garage are in place, with cutouts for (3) 3’x3’ windows. I had always planned on adding electrical service at a later date, so I didn’t make any provisions in footing for a feed source. How close to windows or garage doors can the panel be, and does it need to be in close proximity to the entrance door? Also, does the feed need to enter the garage directly above or below the panel? Any thoughts or resources would be appropriated by the rookie. I live in Michigan if that makes any difference.


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[Stuart in MN]

The national electric code doesn't have any limits for how close the panel is to a door or window. It doesn't need to be in close proximity to the door (although that is often a good place for it; the code does require a certain amount of open working space in front of the panel for safety, and putting the panel so it's behind a passage door is a good spot for that - it keeps you from piling up junk in front of the panel.) The feed (above or below) is more a function of how the wires are brought into the garage, it can be either depending on the situation.


Are you talking about an electrical service that is totally separate from the house, or a branch circuit from the existing panel in the house? Note that in many if not most locations the electric utility will either be reluctant or will outright refuse to run a second service to a residential property, so check with your power company to see what their policy is.

 

[AntonLargiader]

Also, does the feed need to enter the garage directly above or below the panel?

225.32 says "the disconnecting means shall be at a readily accessible location nearest the point of entrance of the conductors" and the other text in the article supports that. Every real-world example I deal with follows this.

The disconnect can be external (like my house and shop have) or internal within the breaker panel (like detached building subpanels tend to have, and many houses have).

I think the point is that they don't want more un-disconnectable wiring within the building than necessary.

 

[seedtime]

The national electric code doesn't have any limits for how close the panel is to a door or window. It doesn't need to be in close proximity to the door (although that is often a good place for it; the code does require a certain amount of open working space in front of the panel for safety, and putting the panel so it's behind a passage door is a good spot for that - it keeps you from piling up junk in front of the panel.) The feed (above or below) is more a function of how the wires are brought into the garage, it can be either depending on the situation.


Are you talking about an electrical service that is totally separate from the house, or a branch circuit from the existing panel in the house? Note that in many if not most locations the electric utility will either be reluctant or will outright refuse to run a second service to a residential property, so check with your power company to see what their policy is.

The service will be branch circuit run from the house, which is only 16’ away.


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[seedtime]

225.32 says "the disconnecting means shall be at a readily accessible location nearest the point of entrance of the conductors" and the other text in the article supports that. Every real-world example I deal with follows this.



The disconnect can be external (like my house and shop have) or internal within the breaker panel (like detached building subpanels tend to have, and many houses have).



I think the point is that they don't want more un-disconnectable wiring within the building than necessary.

I am not up on all the electrical term. So when it says, “readily accessible location nearest the point of entrance of the conductors”. Is it saying that the power feeding the panel should enter the building nearest the panel?


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[AntonLargiader]

Chicken and egg, I think. The disconnect (the panel, for all practical purposes) should be as close as practical to the entry point. Or vice versa, if you have a preferred location for the panel. No idea how stringently this is enforced but as I said, everything I have seen follows this closely.

Everyone can read the relevant code on the NFPA website. It’s free.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I am not up on all the electrical term. So when it says, “readily accessible location nearest the point of entrance of the conductors”. Is it saying that the power feeding the panel should enter the building nearest the panel?

The answer depends on whether you're talking about the main service entrance from the electric utility, or if you're talking about a branch circuit from the existing panel in your house. For a main service entrance disconnect it does need to be nearest the point of entrance, for a branch circuit it can be anywhere. Which one are you planning on? As I mentioned in my earlier post, if you're still in the planning stages find out for sure if your electric utility will provide two separate services to a single residential property - many will not.

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

In simple terms, they prefer the wiring in the building as short as possible before it gets to the panel where it can be turned off. Since you will be feeding it from your house panel, you can bring it to your shop from outside the foundation and feed your panel where it is convenient. Keep the area in front of the panel clear and you will be ok.

 

[Zeke]

The walls for my new detached 24x40 garage are in place, with cutouts for (3) 3’x3’ windows. I had always planned on adding electrical service at a later date, so I didn’t make any provisions in footing for a feed source. How close to windows or garage doors can the panel be, and does it need to be in close proximity to the entrance door? Also, does the feed need to enter the garage directly above or below the panel? Any thoughts or resources would be appropriated by the rookie. I live in Michigan if that makes any difference.


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That doesn't sound a bit like you "planned" for electrical.

You need 30" of space total including either side of the panel and 3 full feet in front from the floor to 6' 6", or over the top of the highest point on the panel. The breakers themselves can't be any higher than 6' 6" in any circumstance. The panel can be anywhere left or right inside that 30" of wall space and the panel door must open a min of 90º.

Another way to look at it is using a large packing box (like one for a full size refrigerator) as a visual. If you imagine a box that size as open space, then that open space must be provided at the panel with NO obstructions.

So, next to a door or window, you need a min of 30" of wall to any corner or protrusion (like a overhead door track) and 36" straight out Plus 65.5" high with no protrusions. If the imaginary box fits that space, golden.

 

[Stuart in MN]

The service will be branch circuit run from the house, which is only 16’ away.

I missed this response when I posted yesterday...since it's a branch circuit from the house, as Hot Rod Grampa said, "Since you will be feeding it from your house panel, you can bring it to your shop from outside the foundation and feed your panel where it is convenient."

 

[seedtime]

You are correct on the not planning for the electrical. However I have a lot of bare walls at this point. The imaginary box analogy clarifies it perfectly in my mind. Walls and trusses went up this week, exciting.


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[AntonLargiader]

...So, next to a door or window, you need a min of 30" of wall to any corner or protrusion (like a overhead door track) and 36" straight out Plus 65.5" high with no protrusions. If the imaginary box fits that space, golden.

Why would the space in front of a window not count as working space? A window is just another type of wall, not an obstruction in the floor space.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Why would the space in front of a window not count as working space? A window is just another type of wall, not an obstruction in the floor space.

You're right, a window doesn't matter. It can be considered as part of that 30" wide space.

 

[rburke65]

The novice can sure get confused reading all the comments on here.

 

[mike93lx]

The novice can sure get confused reading all the comments on here.

It isn't simple stuff, that's why electricians have training and licensing. Hire a pro if needed.

 

[Zeke]

Why would the space in front of a window not count as working space? A window is just another type of wall, not an obstruction in the floor space.

Point taken.