Hi Ron, yes, I am in Canada!

Ron- I’m curious...that seems like a weird mounting location. Do you know if that complies with code requirements for accessibility to the panel?

That's a common Canadian installation, up high and sideways. Their panels are designed to be installed that way. It would probably be illegal in the US since half the breakers would be upsidedown.

Have you checked to see if that is actually legal. I am Canadian and have never seen a panel installed like that. How does one read the white charts that are down each side? If it were mine, I would make my own chart showing which breaker is for which area, so it can be read without cranking my neck.

Anyway back to your question, I would build some kind of louvered door, that could be lifted up so one could have access to it. probably needs to be on some kind of hinged format so the door would stay "up" while you use the unit. I would say louvered, so it doesn't heat up

when covered over. I have a nephew who is an electrician, must ask him next time I see him.

They couldn't figure out a better way of installing an electrical panel?

Since there is no front door on the panel you can trim it out and install a decorative door of your choice with a magnetic latch. Something like this

Also remember (based on US code) that you need to allow working space in front for the electrician to access the panel. US code says the working area must be 30" wide and 36" deep (picture a square of that size on the floor), but Canadian code might differ. Devices above and below the panel cannot stick out more than 6" into the working space, but I assume you can have something moveable up against the wall under it (bench, chair, roller tool box, etc.).

Bruce

I live in Canada and have never seen an electrical panel installed like that. I would get that checked as to code.As for covering it you can’t it needs to not only be accessible but also visible .What is the wood panel behind it?

I don't quite understand how this is installed. My panel is similar, but it's just a cover for the load center, and the 6 holes you see are for the six mounting screws into the load center. How is your panel attached? How would you or an electrician remove it to access the breakers? Finally, it looks proud of the particle board behind it; I thought it would be flush with the board.

Hello everybody! this was installed by a master electrician and inspected by the Electricity Authority, so I hope all is according to code. My house was build in the 1950s, so when we updated the panel, the electrician couldn't do much to change the location. The plywood board is not flushed with the wall, and the panel goes on top of it. In order to access the entire panel, one needs to unscrewed the 6 screws on the corner bottom and top.

Ron-

Thanks for the info. Having worked on several breaker boxes myself during remodels, it just struck me as odd that a person might have to get on a step stool to flip or reset breakers, or to work on the panel.