Looking at a house to buy, over 100 year old frame that has been extensively remodeled. New 100 amp panel is located in basement bathroom, 5′ of the ground over a vanity. You could be brushing your teeth with your left hand and reach over with your right hand to reset a breaker. I don’t know if this type of set up is legal in my city, but aside from that, is this a safety issue or not a big deal?
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Just make sure and spit downward.
It's not legal here; can't believe it would be in Chicago.
Is the door mirrored? Maybe you could disguise all the breakers as pill bottles and stuff.
Forrest - always ready to help
Totally a violation of the NEC 230.70(A)(2).
Thanks, I don't have access to the NEC book. Is it possible you could quote me this passage?
"230.70(A)(2) Bathrooms. Service disconnecting means shall not be installed in bathrooms."
pretty straight forward.
thanks
Another twist on this post. I have a subpanel in a walk in closet that is located in a bathroom. Technically it is separated from the bathroom, but you walk through the bathroom to go into the closet where the subpanel with breakers is located. Is this also a violation?
Experienced, but still dangerous!
My opinion is, it's not in the bathroom but does it have proper clearances to be in the closet?
Thanks, it is alone on a far wall away from combustibles. It has been there for probably 20 years, installed by the original owner/builder. I did have a licensed electrician go through it 5 years ago during a renovation in that area. He found numerous problems he corrected, but I never had that work inspected.
Experienced, but still dangerous!
240.24(D) says overcurrent protection devices cannot be in the "vicinity of easily ignitable material, such as clothes closets". Your closet may not be a clothes closet, but if its used to store towels, linens, etc. I think most inspectors would have a problem with it.
Safety Issue ?
simply move the bathroom and everything will be OK....
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, wer ist jetzt der Idiot ?
The problem, if you are in the City of Chicago, is that they do not use the NEC. They have there own code.
The closes information that I could find was this.
"2000 Chicago Electrical Code-Brief October, 1999 Implementation of New Electrical Ordinance
The 2000 Chicago Electrical Code is a consensus document that is the product of the City of Chicago Electrical Commission in conjunction with an electrical industry 16 member Code Work Group. The Code uses the 1999 National Electrical Code format and incorporates those items from the Chicago Electrical Code that have resulted in the safe installation of electrical systems in the past. The following is a brief summary of important safety issues addressed by the new Code."
I tried looking at the ordinances and found lots of details, but nothing on the electrical code.
In general you will find an ordinace that states that the #### issue of the NEC is adopted with the following changes, additions, and deletions.
But this looks more like a completely different code, but uses the NEC format. So it is hard to tell.
But that section would 230-70(a) in the 99 format.
The main safety issue of having a panel in a bathroom is do to the mositure causing corrosion.
"5' of the ground over a vanity."
I am not sure what this means. But there is a more inportant part of the code. It is called Working Space.
The panel should be in a area that is at least 30" wide, the door can open at least 90*, the space is clear floor to 6.5 ft, and there is 36" behind the panel. That is to allow safe access to the panel.
That is mentioned in 110-26.
But again you need to see the Chicago EC to see if it has those requirements are not.
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.