As an owner of an older commercial property I have been faced with this ordinance. Fortunately the "authorities" only apply this restriction to property constructed after the passing of the code and also for remodels if the space is available. Otherwise, the code doesn't apply.
As others have said you have little to worry about as long as you can access the panel in an emergency.
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
IF you have easy and ready access to breaker handles with the "layout section" in place, and IF you can provide a "clear working space" (usually 30 x 36) with the "layout section" removed, I do not see a safety hazard.
I would likely do it in my house if I had the same situation.
I am not going to argue whether or not the plan is code-legal.
I have been an electrical contractor for 35 years. And please note that the "if"s were capitalized.
Ed
richhotrain My advice, plain and simple, is to never block access to the electrical service panel. In an emergency situation, you want immediate access to the main breaker. That emergency situation may well occur in the dark. Remember, your life could depend upon it.
My advice, plain and simple, is to never block access to the electrical service panel. In an emergency situation, you want immediate access to the main breaker. That emergency situation may well occur in the dark. Remember, your life could depend upon it.
Yeah, that is the correct attitude. I've been busy convincing myself I could get around it with a drop down thingy or swing gate, hence the request for suggestions. I am having second thoughts, though.
I think I'll play around with the helix option and see what I can come up with. Thanks everyone. I appreciate the input.
CG
I do electrical work around the house quite often. Just today, I replaced a faulty 3-way switch controlling my layout lighting. Whenever I work on anything electrical, I throw the controlling circuit breaker at the service panel.
Rich
Alton Junction
Remember that the person who will be accessing the panel more than anyone else is you.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Yeah, that code thing. The idea is to allow instant access should something require access to the panel to shut the house down. Probably any provision that would block the access that's obvious may get the inspector on your case. And it is a good idea. But if you're aware of what's needed and got a clear conscience about maintaining the access as you describe, with it not becoming an issue in an emergency, then I'd say follow your conscience here, but don't brag on it
Frank,
So long as you never have work that requires a permit, that may work. But inspectors are conscientious and this is a rule that is now widely recognized and enforced. It is around here. One big reason -- hoarders. They drive fire departments fears here, having to fight a fire in a unexpectedly confined space, even assuming it didn't start in that panel with stuff stacked up against it.
Model railroaders, with a little discretion, can live with this, probably a good idea, too, considering we so often push the limits of safe access anyway. It's like surviving anything else in life, make the odds work in your favor.
You may also find that some contractors may decline to work on stuff they can't access -- and that's about the monimum size for a human being to occupy. I;ve got a water meter under the layout that's needed changing twice so far. The last time was a short guy who turned out to be a big train fan and loved it. The next time, I may not be so lucky and hope I never have to argue with anyone about it despite tempting fate a little, even though I did leave room -- barely.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
CG,
Were it Me.....I would go ahead and build it with a lift-out section for access to panel. I doubt very seriously, that the ''code police'' will be knocking at Your door.
My 250 amp service panel by no means has that much space around it......just looks like a small door, built in with the rest of the cabinets, in kitchen. In My 36yrs. of living here, never once saw any code police, inspectors. LOL Also in My 74 yrs. some of which was spent working with My Licenced journey man electrician father in law, I never heard of that code space requirement for an electrical service panel.......Not in Ill., anyway!
Take Care!
Frank
I'm working on basic layout and layout room planning and have an electric sevice panel in the way. Code requires a three foot clearance
Avoiding it altogether will mean outside curves and a shorter layout, while passing directly in front of it will make it possible to design for sweeping large radius inside curves. I have decided to pass directly in front of it, while providing some sort of (re)moveable access to the panel. I am aware the code requires 36 inches clearance in the front and 30 inches across.
The plan is to have the panel accessible as the normal state, with the access temporaily blocked only during operation? Has anyone else had to deal with this? I am looking for examples of how others handled this problem.
Edit: To clarify this a bit, The panel will still be able to be opened at all times, but there will be a track or two passing directly in front of it. The track(s) will be far enough out that the door will still be able to be opened even with the track(s) in place.
Thanks