If common courtesy were more common… the spots in front of the equipment could be 10 minute parking zones, or active loading zones or whatever. The equipment is needed on average… maybe once a decade? Yet the clear space has to be empty 24/7/365?
That’s what the cover is for ;-). The most common “solution” I see to the ugly panel outside the closet is for it to be on a wall, and covered by an easily ignitable picture or poster. An example of rule that looked better on paper? Anyway I like your door swing location, but I’ll bet some AHJ’s will gripe about that also.
The NEC doesn’t consider the bottom 18" of a residential garage air space to be any different than the rest of the garage. As you’ve mentioned other codes may have restrictions on that first 18" but the NEC is silent on that.
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I agree, with the cover installed the idea that hot molten metal will be flying out of the panel is somewhat absurd, I’m not saying that it cannot happen but.
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A lot of the latches on the panels are shit. I’d be up for a positive latch requirement, then ditch all the unworkable “combustible” requirements for place.
Good point about the latches. IMO a receptacle is more likely than a panel to have sparks shooting from it and those are not restricted in clothes closets.
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Any chance that might be the reason behind the requirement for AFCIs to be incorporated in all circuits going to basically any living space within a dwelling?
There quite a bit of debate amongst electrical professionals when it comes to AFCI protection. Many feel that the dire need for AFCI devices is just something that has been created by the AFCI manufacturers. In theory their purpose is good but that hasn’t been without some controversy. Do they actually work? In some situations they do but the overall benefit from them IMO hasn’t been determined yet.
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I don’t disagree… but it’s the only logical argument I could make regarding WHY AFCIs are now required.
It will be hard to determine if afcis reduce the number of fires attributed to electrical work, possibly many years later. Not as easy to quantify as deaths prevented by seat belts. Many of the issues have been with older wiring that still lack afci protection. I know some have had issues with the breakers tripping but when the issue was investigated a loose connection or over driven staple was found.