My electrical breaker panel is in the laundry room, next to the kitchen. As part of my kitchen remodel, I am installing new cabinets in the laundry room.
Would there be any electrical code violation if I put a cabinet in front of the electrical box panel and cut an opening in the back of it to uncover the panel? I would make the hole larger than the panel cover so it could be removed.
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Replies
Yes, it will be a problem. The panel needs to have an open working space in front of it, at least 36 inches deep, 30 inches wide, and from floor to ceiling. You may be able to get away with simply putting a door over the panel for decorative purposes, but a cabinet will end up getting filled with stuff that will block access.
Right you are, Stuart, except the 6 1/2 foot "headroom" or height clearance requirement does not apply in existing dwellings for panels of 200 amps or less. I think this is pretty stupid; the hazard of working on a panel with low height clearance does not change just because it's a retrofit situation, but it's right there in 110.26(E), exception (2002 NEC)
It's possible that an inspector would sign off on an installation of a panel in a cabinet if the clearance requirements are met--at least 30" clearance horizontal (keep in mend that the panel does not have to be centered in this space), panel door can open 90 degrees, and 36 inches depth. That's all the Code requires.
There is the Code requirement 240.24 (D), that panels not be located in the vicinity of easily ignited materials (the infamous "such as in clothes closets" example). So it depends on what the cabinet is going to be used for--if it's a linen closet, the inspector ought to disapprove the installation.
Cliff
You're correct about the less than 6 1/2 foot headroom clause - I probably should have said I was talking in general terms, and wasn't including all exceptions that may apply.
My guess is an inspector will not pass a panel in the back of a cabinet, even if it is 30 inches wide...you can tell him you'll never put anything in the cabinet and will keep the space clear, but sooner or later stuff is going to pile up in there unless the cabinet is only as deep as the panelboard itself.
I wonder how difficult it would be to turn the whole panel around 180 degrees so it opens into the garage instead of the laundry room? I guess it depends on how much slack there is in the cables above and below the box.
Stuart, thanks for the answer -- I guess we'll have to work around it. You said floor to ceiling must remain open, so we can't put a lower cabinet below the box or an upper cabinet above the box either, is that correct?
You're not supposed to have anything that projects out from the wall further than the panelboard itself (I believe you are allowed a few inches variation from that, but I don't have time at the moment to dig the exact line and verse out of the codebook.) For instance, if there's a base cabinet underneath the panelboard that's 30 inches deep or whatever, you would have to lean over it to work on or maintain the panelboard and that won't fly. On the other hand, if there was a 6 inch deep shelf underneath the panelboard that probably won't be a problem.
You can't have a permanent built-in there, but it would be OK if instead you build a movable piece of furniture. Maybe put it on wheels so you can easily roll it out of the way to get at the breakers when you need to.
-- J.S.
That sounds like a good idea, at least we wouldn't have to waste the space above and below it. Maybe I can rig up something on wheels that matches the other cabinets.
I suppose putting the washing machine under it wouldn't fly, since it's not easily moveable to work in the space.
Not only do you not want the washer in the way, you don't need a whole bunch of water where all the wires are. You don't want to try to cram all the plumbing and wires in the same stud bay.
As for turning the box to face the garage, you have to consider storage blocking it there, and where it's more convenient to go to reset breakers.
-- J.S.
Wish I knew how to load pics cause this was kinda trick.
I built a full apartment in a basement last year and the panel wound up in the kitchen. I ended up building a countertop that flipped up on hinges for access to the side cabinet and easy removal to service the panel.
The customer placed a picture over the panel and you'd never know its there.