Generally speaking, can the main utility panel be located in a habited room? We will be converting a garage into a home theater and the back of the garage will be a seperate room to house all the theater equiptment, audio racks etc. I have always lived in homes that had the main panel on the outside of the house so I am not familiar with any rules that might apply to having one on the inside.
Thanks,
john
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Replies
Yes it can, so long as you maintain clear access for 3' in front of it, and for so many inches on either side (I can't remember what that is) and it is at a normal height. You can hang something removable over it (like a painting), and place furniture in front of it, but when an electrician needs to work in the panel, he needs to be able to stand safely in front of it without being crowded. So, you could not put it in a closet, for example, unless it were large enough to permit code required working clearances.
There are people who frequent Breaktime who are very familiar with the precise code requirements.
The panel needs a clear space 30 inches wide, 36 inches deep, and 6 1/2 feet tall in front of it for proper working clearance. Put it in a spot where there are no water pipes or ducts running above it (you don't want water leaks or condensation drips falling on the panel, for obvious reasons.)
Even though people do it all the time, you're not supposed to put anything in front of the panel like furniture, boxes, etc. It should be in a spot where people aren't going to want to store things.
Generally, closets are off limits for panelboards, the problem is that a closet gets filled with clothes or other combustible items. However, it sounds like you're thinking of putting the panel in this new room where the theatre and audio equipment will be, and that's fine as long as you maintain the working space in front of it.