Distance between Electrical panelboard and bathroom
#1
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Distance between Electrical panelboard and bathroom
I've had 2 different opinions on this from 2 different electricians. I live in Ontario, Canada and my basement bathroom rough-in was installed around my electrical panelboard and I'm in the process of finishing the basement with a 3-piece bathroom.
The first electrician said the way it is framed now is fine. The way it is framed now, there will be a door about a foot from the panelboard. He said, with the door opening out, it will leave more than the required 3-feet space required by the ESA. And the panel won't be in the bathroom because it will be enclosed with a full wall & door.
The second electrician said I need a 3ft x 3ft enclosure around it -- so the panelboard needs to be in a separate 3ftx3ft room. So I need to move the door frame out another 2 feet to have the panelboard in a 3ftx3ft room.
I looked up the ESA and it appears all that is required is a 3ft clearance in front of the panel. Does this mean, though, I need (or even should have) the panel enclosed in a 3ftx3ft room?
Thanks for your advice.
The first electrician said the way it is framed now is fine. The way it is framed now, there will be a door about a foot from the panelboard. He said, with the door opening out, it will leave more than the required 3-feet space required by the ESA. And the panel won't be in the bathroom because it will be enclosed with a full wall & door.
The second electrician said I need a 3ft x 3ft enclosure around it -- so the panelboard needs to be in a separate 3ftx3ft room. So I need to move the door frame out another 2 feet to have the panelboard in a 3ftx3ft room.
I looked up the ESA and it appears all that is required is a 3ft clearance in front of the panel. Does this mean, though, I need (or even should have) the panel enclosed in a 3ftx3ft room?
Thanks for your advice.
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I have never heard of a panel needing to be in an enclosed room like you stated. Plenty of the homes I manage, and have done service upgrades in have the panel on a wall in the basement. As far as distance from the bathroom I am not sure on that. I know that I have had to move a panel out of a bathroom before, but I just moved it to the wall that enclosed the bathroom. It was about 2.5 feet from the door. The electrical inspector did not have any issues with that.
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Ohhh..Now I see what is going on here. Didn't look at the picture long enough. Yeah, that panel needs to have a door in front of it to "remove" it from the bathroom. It does need to be 3ft from the panel. As far as the width goes I have no clue.
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Thanks for your replies. So I will need to move the door 3 feet in front of the panel I guess.
The closest wet location is the vanity you can see roughed-in in the picture, to the left of the panel. It's around 4 ft from the panel itself.
The closest wet location is the vanity you can see roughed-in in the picture, to the left of the panel. It's around 4 ft from the panel itself.
#6
Bottom line is an electrical panel can not be in a bathroom, and working space about a panel is required to be at least 30" wide and 36" deep. By making a 36"x36" room for the panel you will meet both codes.
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panel in bathroom enclosure
Hi,
I am too stuck with a panel in my planned bathroom. I live in Ontario, and the code says the panel has to be in a 3ft x 3ft 'closet'. My question is does the panel have to be absolutely centered? How much clearance from the panel side (or wire coming out of) to the wall?
I know I might save only a few inches, but that will determine where my toilet goes.
Thanks,
Nick
I am too stuck with a panel in my planned bathroom. I live in Ontario, and the code says the panel has to be in a 3ft x 3ft 'closet'. My question is does the panel have to be absolutely centered? How much clearance from the panel side (or wire coming out of) to the wall?
I know I might save only a few inches, but that will determine where my toilet goes.
Thanks,
Nick