What is the real danger?

Hey guys

I wrote up a panel with breakers in a clothes closet the other day. Home was built in 1992.

Listing agent is having a fit.

I get that we don't want ocpd within the vicinity if easily ignitable materials, but with the breakers inside a metal enclosure, what's the real danger here? Have any fires actually started from a breaker tripping in a clothes closet. I would think it's more likely that a tripped breaker would start a fire in a garage, but no problems with installing them there.

Clearance requirements most likely will not be met in closet.

To Juan's point, they exist, they don't cause issues. Heck, we see pictures constantly of panels in precarious places...and I've never heard of the first issue from this. Breakers offer excellent protection.

We still got to call them.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 06/27/2014 05:37 PM EDT

Juan Jimenez wrote:Hey guys

I wrote up a panel with breakers in a clothes closet the other day. Home was built in 1992.

Listing agent is having a fit.

I get that we don't want ocpd within the vicinity if easily ignitable materials, but with the breakers inside a metal enclosure, what's the real danger here? Have any fires actually started from a breaker tripping in a clothes closet. I would think it's more likely that a tripped breaker would start a fire in a garage, but no problems with installing them there.

Section 240-24(d) was revised in the 1981 NEC to add the words "such as in clothes closets" because it was felt that the practice of panelboards with overcurrent protective devices installed in clothes closets created a hazard, even more than a fixture not properly installed per Code. In dwelling type occupancies clothes closets are filled with clothes covering panels, and they are also located behind closed doors. With the use of many panelboards with overcurrent protective devices being installed in the apartment closets, the tenants are unable to reset their GFCI for bathrooms if a GFCI breaker is used quickly. Also, locating overcurrent protective devices in clothes closets violates the required working clearances found in Sections 110-16, 422, and 440-14 because they are not "readily accessible".

I can't think of a more complete and accurate way to answer that one!

Now for the big question- when was the house built Juan?

Nathan, the house was built in 1992.

The NEC is a safety code and anything perceived as hazardous is a violation of that code. How many times have we seen double-lugging and nothing has happened for 30 years or more? I can't say I have ever heard of a fire starting in a closet, but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened. It is still wrong.

Looks like Dallas isn't the place to be :http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/plano/headlines/20100820-Experts-say-electrical-panels-in-Dallas-8568.ece as somehow,

Many found in closets
The suspect Stab-Lok circuit breakers were manufactured beginning in 1960 and used through the 1980s by Federal Pacific Electric. Most - but not all - were installed in closets.

And quite a discussion here: http://www4.iccsafe.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=11;t=000888;p=1

I missed the 1992. Read too fast... If it were a 1980 house, I wouldn't call it.