sub-panel door opening codes

19 years ago

I did a quick search of past posts and read the sub-panel FAQs, but I didn't see this question addressed.

We have a new sub-panel in a new walk-in closet. It is positioned near the corner, but the door on the panel is hinged so that it can open up flat against the wall in which it is recessed.

Is it against code or good judgment (either one is important) to block that door from opening all the way (180 degrees)?

I ask because we are going to put in a closet organizer system and I need to know if I should plan to have a wide wardrobe frame surrounding the panel (so that it can open all the way) or if I can use a narrow one that will only allow the panel door to open up 90 degrees. Design wise I'd rather use the narrow one, which is why I'm asking the question.

Thanks in advance for your replies. Oh, I'm in So.Cal. if that helps matters.

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Comments (12)

greg_h
19 years ago
I've included a link to another thread where someone was asking about clearances and petey_racer posted a nice diagram.

But, I don't think a panel can be in a clothes closet. Did this installation get inspected and passed? Or is this closet not for clothes? I think there is an issue about easily combustible objects being around a panel.

Here is a link that might be useful: old thread about clearances
nherold
Original Author
19 years ago
This is in a clothes closet and it did pass inspection. Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.
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petey_racer
19 years ago
That ABSOLUTELY should NOT have passed inspection.
DavidR
19 years ago
We have a new sub-panel in a new walk-in closet.

Which came first, the closet or the panel?
bus_driver
19 years ago
If you intend this installation to remain as-is, the most important consideration is that the panel cover be removeable for access to the interior of the panel. The door opening affects only the operation of the breakers, the cover controls the replacement of the breakers if necessary. Some years ago, I was sent to add one circuit in a house. This was a poverty level family who owned their own house. The house had 60 amp service with two pullout fuse holders and 4 plug fuses, the range pullout was not supplied through the main pullout- millions of these panels were made. There was one unused plug fuse. But at the time the house was built, they had no kitchen cabinets, they just used apple boxes stacked with a sheet draped over them. Just like my childhood. When they built simple kitchen cabinets on site, the cover on the panel could not be removed because of a shelf running right across the panel. Don't compound the problem at your house by such an error.
petey_racer
19 years ago
"Which came first, the closet or the panel?"

Shouldn't really matter. If this was a renovation/installation that was inspected then regardless of succession a major violation was created in the end.
DavidR
19 years ago
I asked which came first mostly out of curiosity. I would hope it was an handyman building the closet who didn't know better, rather than an electrician installing the panel in an existing closet. But you're right, it's a violation either way.
Ron Natalie
19 years ago
Is that the shelf with the pie shaped wedge cut out of it so you could swing the panel door? I've seen something like that on Holt's site.
nherold
Original Author
19 years ago
Sorry I haven't replied sooner. We've been building the kitchen cabinets.

Well, the closet and panel were built at the same time. The closet was framed in when the electrician put in the new sub-panel, which was moved from an upstairs hallway. The electrician knew it was a walk-in closet, but I'm not sure if the inspector did (he didn't really look at the plans when he inspected).

The panel cover is removable and will remain removable (I won't put anything in front of it). My question was if I had to leave enough room next to the panel so that the cover could open flat against the wall or if I needed room to the side of it for any other reason. However if the whole cover can just come off I guess it doesn't really matter. Right?

Trust me, I'm not putting any of my clothes in front of this area. I'll probably just have some shoe shelves below it.
lanelu46
19 years ago
Since it sound like your just living with the issue, as long as it opens 90 deg. and you can still get the cover off, thats fine. If your electrician knew it would be a closet and still did it. I'm scared to see how the rest of his work is. Just for safty, since your not moving the panel, put a smoke detector in the closet.
User
19 years ago
Wont it need to be made right at resale?
Seems like now is the time to fix this.
brickeyee
19 years ago
You need a 30 inch wide by 36 inch deep area in front of the panel to meet code.
Nothing can be in this area.

Get the panel out of the closet.
What is on the wall behind the panel?
Moving a panel to have the fro on the other side of the wall is not usually very difficult.