Electrical panel clearance from floor

[Tyler Jones]

We're having work done in our basement and it requires another electrical panel in addition to our existing panel. I'd like to have the second panel placed below our first panel instead of next to it to free up more space for shelving. I understand some of the electrical panel clearance rules like 3 feet clearance in front, 6.5 feet minimum height, and 30 inches workspace left to right (so 15" left and 15" right from centerline). But I haven't been able to find anything stating if there is a minimum clearance from the floor required.

If I were to put the second panel under the first, there would be about 33 to 35 inches of clearance from the bottom of the panel to the floor. Is there any issue with that or other rules I need to be aware of?

Thanks,

Tyler

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[Billy Stephens]

We're having work done in our basement and it requires another electrical panel in addition to our existing panel. I'd like to have the second panel placed below our first panel instead of next to it to free up more space for shelving. I understand some of the electrical panel clearance rules like 3 feet clearance in front, 6.5 feet minimum height, and 30 inches workspace left to right (so 15" left and 15" right from centerline). But I haven't been able to find anything stating if there is a minimum clearance from the floor required.

If I were to put the second panel under the first, there would be about 33 to 35 inches of clearance from the bottom of the panel to the floor. Is there any issue with that or other rules I need to be aware of?

Thanks,

Tyler

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Try Here Keep in the clear! The NEC insistence on a wide berth isn't just a power trip | Engineered Systems | Find Articles
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[Jimmy Roberts]

NEC 110.26 covers work space around electrical panels. All clearance specs are horizontal. The only vertical spec referenced is that 6 1/2 ft of vertical space from the floor to the ceiling is required for the panel area.

[Jim Port]

The 30" width does not need to be centered on the panel. As long as the panel falls within the 30" width you are fine. The door also needs to open at least 90 degrees.

Based on your description there should be no issues.

[Rick Cantrell]

If I were to put the second panel under the first, there would be about 33 to 35 inches of clearance from the bottom of the panel to the floor. Is there any issue with that or other rules I need to be aware of?

The electric cables are not allowed to pass through the other cabinet.

[Jim Port]

Care to expand on that Rick?

[Rick Cantrell]

Care to expand on that Rick?

SECTION E3807
CABINETS AND PANELBOARDS
E3807.1 Enclosures for switches or overcurrent devices.
Enclosures for switches or overcurrent devices shall not be
used as junction boxes, auxiliary gutters, or raceways for conductors
feeding through or tapping off to other switches or
overcurrent devices, except where adequate space for this purpose
is provided. The conductors shall not fill the wiring space
at any cross section to more than 40 percent of the cross-sectional
area of the space, and the conductors, splices, and taps
shall not fill the wiring space at any cross section to more than
75 percent of the cross-sectional area of that space.

[Jim Port]

It is very hard to reach those percentages of fill. Additional conductors and splices are allowed. In the NEC that is 312.8.

[Rick Cantrell]

It is very hard to reach those percentages of fill. Additional conductors and splices are allowed. In the NEC that is 312.8.

I do not have the NEC, perhaps you will post it.
But anyhow

Enclosures for switches or overcurrent devices shall not be
used as junction boxes, auxiliary gutters, or raceways for conductors
feeding through or tapping off to other switches or
overcurrent devices, except where adequate space for this purpose is provided.

Having space is not the same as having space for this purpose.
Having space is like saying:
Is there available room for additional wires.

Having space for this purpose is more like:
A space in the panel box the manufacturer has intended to be used for the purpose of being a gutter, raceway, or...

If the code intended to allow this, they would not need to include "for this purpose". They could easily have said "except where adequate space".

[Jim Port]

There are too many variables to be considered to have a panel listed with a designated area.

The wording "for this purpose" has also been dropped from the NEC.

Here is the 2011 Article

312.8 Switch and Overcurrent Device Enclosures with
Splices, Taps, and Feed-Through Conductors. The wiring
space of enclosures for switches or overcurrent devices
shall be permitted for conductors feeding through, spliced,
or tapping off to other enclosures, switches, or overcurrent
devices where all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The total of all conductors installed at any cross section
of the wiring space does not exceed 40 percent of the
cross-sectional area of that space.
(2) The total area of all conductors, splices, and taps installed
at any cross section of the wiring space does not
exceed 75 percent of the cross-sectional area of that
space.
(3) A warning label is applied to the enclosure that identifies
the closest disconnecting means for any feedthrough
conductors.

The revised wording seems to reinforce that the space did not need to be identified or dedicated, but the capacity does need to exist before you can install more in it. Kind of like 10 pounds of sugar in a 5 pound sack.

[Rick Cantrell]

There are too many variables to be considered to have a panel listed with a designated area.

The wording "for this purpose" has also been dropped from the NEC.

Here is the 2011 Article

312.8 Switch and Overcurrent Device Enclosures with
Splices, Taps, and Feed-Through Conductors. The wiring
space of enclosures for switches or overcurrent devices
shall be permitted for conductors feeding through, spliced,
or tapping off to other enclosures, switches, or overcurrent
devices where all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The total of all conductors installed at any cross section
of the wiring space does not exceed 40 percent of the
cross-sectional area of that space.
(2) The total area of all conductors, splices, and taps installed
at any cross section of the wiring space does not
exceed 75 percent of the cross-sectional area of that
space.
(3) A warning label is applied to the enclosure that identifies
the closest disconnecting means for any feedthrough
conductors.

The revised wording seems to reinforce that the space did not need to be identified or dedicated, but the capacity does need to exist before you can install more in it. Kind of like 10 pounds of sugar in a 5 pound sack.

What you posted from the NEC certainly has a different meaning and outcome than the (2006) IRC.
The one that has been adopted for that (or any) area governs.

[Rick Cantrell]

Even with what you posted it looks that it is limited to feeding through of wiring to switches, over-current devices, and other enclosures.
Not to:
Receptacles, stoves/ ovens, dryers,...
Just a thought