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Subject - Load centers in kitchen spaces.
techsol We recently worked on a small ranch style home with no garage. All rooms were off a common entrance and the only utility space was in the bathroom/laundry room. Since the customer did not want the load center in the living room and I will not install one in a bedroom, We installed it in a wall in the kitchen well away from the appliances and sink. The local inspector {quoting from the NEC} turned it down but I can not find the article he used. I have talked to other inspectors we deal with and they agree with me but he wont budge. Am I mistaken and there is an article forbidding this or is my inspector mistaken? If you know the article please give me the section it is in. I have discussed it with the local utility and they have no local code regarding it either. Thanks in advance.
JimmyDee I have found the easiest way to handle situations like this is to have him put it in writing, (should do anyway) and give the code reference he is using.
Jim
JimmyDee Unless it is a local code, from my search of the NEC, your inspector is wrong. Nothing in there that says anything like that that I could find.
The only location I could find that was prohibited was:
quote:
230.70 General.
(A) Location. The service disconnecting means shall be installed in accordance with 230.70(A)(1), (2), and (3).
(1) Readily Accessible Location. The service disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily accessible location either outside of a building or structure or inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors.
(2) Bathrooms. Service disconnecting means shall not be installed in bathrooms.

Jim
lctrc789 Ask them to quote you the NEC article, I know of only bathrooms and accesible locations. It could be maybe a local code they enforce on this.
Local codes always supersede any NEC code, but again I never try to argue with inspectors and you should check all local codes as well as NEC codes.
We have a local utility that does not allow a water gorund ever and we have one local county that requires you ground their meter bases etc.
Always check with them before you start any work for they are all different.
Good luck.
Ryan_J
quote:
Originally posted by JimmyDee

The only location I could find that was prohibited was:
quote:
230.70 General.
(A) Location. The service disconnecting means shall be installed in accordance with 230.70(A)(1), (2), and (3).
(1) Readily Accessible Location. The service disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily accessible location either outside of a building or structure or inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors.
(2) Bathrooms. Service disconnecting means shall not be installed in bathrooms.

Jim


Jim: See 240.24 as well.
techsol Thanks guys. Did all that before hand. Turns out the inspector's supervisor agrees with me. Will probably bite me on the butt later but for now I am in the clear.