# Question About Main Panels vs Sub Panels **URL:** \ **Category:** Electrical Inspections\ **Created:** [January 25, 2014, 11:31pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/question-about-main-panels-vs-sub-panels/83973 "2014-01-25T23:31:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![grussell](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/grussell/32/60262_2.png) [@grussell](https://forum.nachi.org/u/grussell)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 11:31pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/question-about-main-panels-vs-sub-panels/83973/1 "2014-01-25T23:31:04Z")
I have always understood that main electrical panels are no longer (if ever) allowed to be placed in a laundry room because of the high moisture content. What about the Sub-Panel? Wouldn’t the concern be the same? ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Arbusto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Mike\_Arbusto](https://forum.nachi.org/u/Mike_Arbusto)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 11:48pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/question-about-main-panels-vs-sub-panels/83973/2 "2014-01-25T23:48:32Z")
I am not aware of any NEC provision that would disallow the main or the sub to be in a laundry room. Bathrooms, clothes closets and over the steps of the stairs (except for landings) are the three locations that are no-no’s, but everything else is OK as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![ddagostino](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/ddagostino/32/60136_2.png) [@ddagostino](https://forum.nachi.org/u/ddagostino)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 11:52pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/question-about-main-panels-vs-sub-panels/83973/3 "2014-01-25T23:52:34Z")
The NEC doesn’t address “laundry rooms”, so the installation of any panelboard requires following the normal listing/labeling, including proximity to sinks, working clearances, etc. Dom. ---
**Author:** ![jpope](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jpope/32/59425_2.png) [@jpope](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jpope)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/question-about-main-panels-vs-sub-panels/83973/4 "2014-01-26T00:41:58Z")
It does not matter whether a panel is a “main” (service) or “sub” (distribution) panel. Any rule regarding location applies to both. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Arbusto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Mike\_Arbusto](https://forum.nachi.org/u/Mike_Arbusto)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 2:17am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/question-about-main-panels-vs-sub-panels/83973/5 "2014-01-26T02:17:55Z")
Right… sub or main (or, to name them properly, service panel or a remote distribution panel) may be located in any place other than over stairs, in a bathroom or in a clothes closet. However, even in a permissible location, the clearances per 110.26 (A)(2) must be maintained. To illustrate that requirement, one must be able to put an empty refrigerator box in front of a breaker panel. There are no other limitations that I know of. ---
**Author:** ![rmeier2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/rmeier2/32/59909_2.png) [@rmeier2](https://forum.nachi.org/u/rmeier2)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/question-about-main-panels-vs-sub-panels/83973/6 "2014-01-26T02:44:15Z")
I’m curious as to why a laundry room would have a high moisture content? ---
**Author:** ![pabernathy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/pabernathy/32/178230_2.png) [@pabernathy](https://forum.nachi.org/u/pabernathy)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 4:01am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/question-about-main-panels-vs-sub-panels/83973/7 "2014-01-26T04:01:18Z")
I’m curious where the proximity to sinks come into play. Nothing in Art. 408 about sinks…😉 ---
**Author:** ![canderson5](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/canderson5/32/1814_2.png) [@canderson5](https://forum.nachi.org/u/canderson5)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 4:05am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/question-about-main-panels-vs-sub-panels/83973/8 "2014-01-26T04:05:48Z")
> [@Robert\_Meier](#): > > I’m curious as to why a laundry room would have a high moisture content? Burst washer hose? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![sfogarty](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/sfogarty/32/58235_2.png) [@sfogarty](https://forum.nachi.org/u/sfogarty)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 5:38am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/question-about-main-panels-vs-sub-panels/83973/9 "2014-01-26T05:38:08Z")
What about outside??? Lots of panels outside here and they are suceptible to moisture. ---
**Author:** ![rmeier2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/rmeier2/32/59909_2.png) [@rmeier2](https://forum.nachi.org/u/rmeier2)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 1:45pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/question-about-main-panels-vs-sub-panels/83973/10 "2014-01-26T13:45:21Z")
Certainly some basements, sheds and garages have a higher or equal degree of moisture than any laundry room and panels are permitted in those locations. ---
**Author:** ![ddagostino](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/ddagostino/32/60136_2.png) [@ddagostino](https://forum.nachi.org/u/ddagostino)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/question-about-main-panels-vs-sub-panels/83973/11 "2014-01-26T19:05:38Z")
> [@pabernathy](#): > > I’m curious where the proximity to sinks come into play. Nothing in Art. 408 about sinks…😉 I was using that as an example of something obstructing the clear space, since the OP asked about “laundry rooms”. ---
**Author:** ![pabernathy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/pabernathy/32/178230_2.png) [@pabernathy](https://forum.nachi.org/u/pabernathy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/question-about-main-panels-vs-sub-panels/83973/12 "2014-01-27T02:25:10Z")
Ok…was not clear;) ---
**Author:** ![prussell](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/prussell/32/309158_2.png) [@prussell](https://forum.nachi.org/u/prussell)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 10:45am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/question-about-main-panels-vs-sub-panels/83973/13 "2014-01-28T10:45:22Z")
How about in a Boathouse. This panel was a little frosty. ![Kadish 037 (Small).JPG](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/3X/5/8/58b73b92510dd195fab8ea839f7e454872a1d424.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![grussell](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/grussell/32/60262_2.png) [@grussell](https://forum.nachi.org/u/grussell)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 7:35pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/question-about-main-panels-vs-sub-panels/83973/14 "2014-01-28T19:35:02Z")
Thanks for the education ya’ll!