Electric Panel clearance for heaters

Please gentlemen. Try to treat each other respectfully.
The thread should have ended several posts ago. This is unwarranted squabbling.
Best regards.
Robert Young

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Thank you for the kind words. I just try to stick to the facts and avoid the subterfuge.

Given that you cannot cite code, and that the purpose of codes are life safety, you don’t see a code violation as a safety issue? I really don’t see how that is serving the best interests of the buyers. What happens when the new buyers sell and the next inspector correctly notes the issue?

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Although its not prohibited by the NEC , the NEC requires following the manufactures instructions. Most ( if not all ) listed electric baseboard heaters prohibit installing them under outlets.

Thank you Robert for your longstanding, expert electrical advice! It is much appreciated.

A specialist(electrician) having a deeper understanding than a generalist (home inspector) should be self evident.

On another thread MP boasts of passing a law where the generalist can not be questioned by the specialist. I can not think of anything more retarded, and this thread is a perfect example of that.

The baseboard heater is in no way part of the electrical installation or permitted equipment.

Here is a better question: How does an electrical heater fit in with NEC 210.52(a) given the electrical heater does not come with any built-in 120V receptacles? How do you meet code when the instructions that come with the heater forbid to be installed below outlets. I see no exception for this in the code. I guess you cannot?

There are basically two ways that you can satisfy the 6’/12’ spacing rule in Article 210. You can buy the receptacles that are integral to the electric baseboard heat or you’ll need to leave a space between the sections of baseboard for the receptacle placement.

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Jim I don’t write Ohio law, I just follow it. Citing code in Ohio is not considered part of a home inspection.

You can cite all the codes that you please except electrical codes.

Again I don’t make the rules - I just obey them…

MP, what’s your “professional” opinion on this one? Code violation? Defect? Nuisance?

All the above. That is (in Ohio) fair game for a home inspector AND should be called out.

IMHO (in Ohio) a home inspector is allowed by law to comment on the readily accessible components without violating RC 3783.

Performing an ‘electrical inspection’ is not allowed - performing a home inspection and reporting on a visible ‘defect’ is allowed.

The trick is to make sure that when you report on it that it is a defect in addition to being a code violation. All I am saying is be careful.

How does an HI define a defect vs a code issue?

That’s a great question. I offered to help the OHIB on this.

Here is how Ohio explained it: https://activerain.com/blogsview/281117/ohio-electrical-inspection-rules

“indicating the state of function, operation or relative hazards,”