boxing in electrical panel

[SaM]

Just a quick question. I am finishing basement. Is it ok to box in an electical panel with wood? I.E. make a door around it, framed with say wood 2 x 4's?

SaM

[Roy Mottola]

[Greg O]

I don't know what code is, but I see electrical panels in closets, in cupboards all the time. I have an electrical panel in a room that will become a bedroom, it will get something simular to a shallow cupboard over it before I am done! As long as it is easily accessable I don't see a problem. Greg

[Greg]

When I remodeled our bedroom I built a small closet around my panel and the rest of the utilities that come in there (phone and cable). Now I have a place for a phone punch block, Cat 5 hub/router, cable modem, TV cable amp/splitter and all the tools to maintain this stuff. Put in some lighting and receptacles for your stuff. The closet itself is only a few inches deeper than the panel. Just be sure you use at least a 32" door so you have 30" of unrestricted working space in front of the panel with the door open.

[MC]

Codes change all the time, what may have been done before may not be allowed now. Check your local code listings. It may seem not a big deal if you are doing the work yourself, but in some locations insurance may refuse to pay on a claim if a fire for instance was caused by improper work not to code and/or not done by a licensed professional.

[Greg]

The basic rules on working space have not changed that much and that is the issue here. As long as he has 30" wide and 80" high, clear in front of the panel out to 3 feet, (with the door open) he is OK. As long as he is not encroaching on working space the "boxing in" is not an issue.

[HA HA Budys Here]

Unless his "box" gets so deep it's now considered a closet, in which case, totally illegal.

Do not add any shelves or closet rods, or even think about leaning a broom inside this space if it's ever inspected.

[Greg]

Only if this is a "Clothes" closet

240.24(D) Not in Vicinity of Easily Ignitible Material. Overcurrent devices shall not be located in the vicinity of easily ignitible material, such as in clothes closets. handbook commentary Examples of locations where combustible materials may be stored are linen closets, paper storage closets, and clothes closets.

How flammable is your broom? Just don't put your your moonshine stash in there.

[HA HA Budys Here]

Or used computer perephirals, which may have been exposed to prior usenet flames!