HawthorneVillager.com

Hello,
We had our sturtural and color done but there was this one question I asked and the consultant gave a straight "NO" anwser stating that according to building codes
The question was if we could change the location of the Electrical Panel board to near the HWT in the basement....and the answer was No - Mattamy cannot do it. Are there any codes written that we can view or is it something which is accepted verbally?
Did anyone had to make this change?
Trini

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We are in.......

I'm not making any changes. All I am doing is creating "my" utility/work/hobby/getaway/beer drinking/entertainment room where the electrical panel is located.

Tim

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http://spaces.msn.com/greensburg101/ website update...Feb 13, 2009

Unfortunately the Ontario Electrical Code is not freely available like the Ontario Building Code.

I do have a summarized copy of the OEC, I'll see if I can find it in there. I do remember that the panel has to be at least 1m above the floor.

We tried to do this as well because we wanted to relocate our 3 piece rough-in in the basement to one of the corners (as opposed to the middle of the basement). We were told that the hydro would be brought into the building at one of 2 locations and Mattamy has no control over it. Unfortunately, the relocated rough-in would have been in one of those locations and we opted not to take the risk.

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Derek & Ruvani

Location of Service Panel Rule 6-206

Must be inside building being served
May not be directly mounted to wood backing
Must be accessible
May not be mounted above freezers, washers, dryers, tubs, counter space, etc.
It should not be in bathrooms, clothes closets, stairwells, kitchen cabinets or simular places. Rules 6-206, 2-308(1) and 26-402.
Panel must be placed as high as possible above the floor but never more than 1.7 metres.
1 metre of floor area must be clear in front of the panel.

So what reason would there be for Mattamy to resist relocating the panel as long as it is to code? Extra admin? I'm not trying to be sarcastic I genuinely want to know.

I've been in several models of my home while they were under construction and have seen the panel in three very different locations; two of which I think are less than ideal and one exactly where I'd like it to be. Considering the panel has to feed the same locations throughout these houses (identical models) this would lead me to believe there is not a "single best location" for it (as is the case with the furnace for example).

So is the location simply an arbitrary decision made by the Electrician? And if so, I ask again, why can't the owner determine the location as long as it is to code?

Mark (Clearly not an expert or even amateur Electrician )

Thanks Greg,
I see none of these locations mentioned "not near the HWT". My current house the electrical panel board is near the HWT and it saves a lot of space. I wonder why they cannot move it now
Trini

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We are in.......

It's entirely possibly the builder does not define the service entrance, but Milton Hydro comes along and taps the wall and the electrician takes it from there. Do not quote me on that.

But also keep in mind, these are assembly line houses.. the same guys do every single service entrance, and deviating from what is easiest at the time may be too difficult