Bellingham WA Home Inspection (King of the House) : Inadequate Electric Panel Access

I guess it is a cosmetic thing, they hate the look of the electric panel, but many homeowners insist on putting up obstacles that make access to their electric panels unsafe. That in itself is a defect that should be called out on a home inspection report. To be considered accessible, a panel needs an open area at least 30" x 3 feet deep at the front; about 5 1/2’ of space from the floor to the center of the panel -- eye level; at least 6'3" of headroom in front; walls, below the panel, must be unencumbered and clear down to the floor.

If you have ever tried to open a panel with inadequate clearances, you would know exactly why those dimensions are specified. I think that if, like inspectors, homeowners ever opened their own panels, they would understand the problems they have created by building in obstacles. First, often the panel is blocked by cupboards and shelves, like the one shown here, and the old wires are not up to stress, pulling and prying, nor is the insulation on the wires up for that. The inspector has to get the panel cover off without dislodging anything and without shorting the circuit or coming in contact with an ungrounded conductor (hot wire). When front access is limited, or some obstacle is in place that eliminates the option of pulling a cover straight out, things get real difficult. A panel often has to be opened like a book, by pulling it open with one edge still hinged at the side. That can make an inspector nervous, as the cover may bind, and one usually has to apply pressure to the sides of breakers -- some of which are not always hooked so well in a panel. I have seen them, essentially, fall or be pried out by removing the cover. Also, often the inspector is stretched as far as he or she can go, just trying to get everything apart and then back together.

If an inspector refuses to open a panel, because he or she considers it unsafe, keep in mind the access guidelines mentioned at the top of this blog. There are times when I squeaked by, holding my breath the whole while, but realized later that I should never have opened the panel in the first place. It would have been best to have called for an electrician.

• Steven Smith's professional profile
• King of the House home

• Rate this Post!

  Select Your Rating:

  • 5 Stars (Excellent!)
  • 4 Stars
  • 3 Stars
  • 2 Stars
  • 1 Stars (Poor)

• Share this Post

  Share With A Friend:

  Your Name Your Email

  Friend's Name Friend's Email

  Optional Message

  Send

• Print
• Social Bookmarking

  Add to Bookmarks: