ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Working space violation?

Does anyone see an issue if we mount a panel below the window sill on unistrut in order to clear the gas line? The last few inches of the gas line would be behind the panel. (The old disco goes away and the meter base gets replaced with a new 200)

BigB:

Blocking the gas pipe could be an issue with a few AHJs.

(Plumbing and Fire marshal)

Personally, I hold my nose as Greg says.

I fail to see space to mount a new service. There just isn't enough wall. Plus ... how low will you go?

Perhaps this is only because I'm accustomed to mounting "all in one" panels, that are considerably larger than the old meter pan / disco arrangement.

Still, I've had to relocate many services. In your case, simply moving it around the corner might work.

Just tell them it is wheelchair accessible

I am not sure what the rules are about gas lines remaining accessible if there is no serviceable equipment in the run.

It's just a gas line - there's no equipment or union there. Code allows it to be completely inaccessible. Bury it in the wall, stick it in the ground, pour a driveway over it, you're OK.

Not that I would want to do that. The skeptic in me says "some day I'll want to work on that." Especially on a building with as much 'experience' as the on in the picture!

The panel will go where the box is. It will be a MB nippled into a new meter can. There is 42" from grade to the bottom of the window sill. I have put in my bid that the gas pipe must be shortened just because I don't want to deal with it.


That is the back porch of a 1900s Victorian. At some point someone closed it in for a laundry room and stuccoed it. The rest of the house is original red brick and looks great, just seeing the back porch does not do justice to the rest of the home. I wish they would tear it off and rebuild it to what it was originally.

BigB:
Good move requiring the pipe be cut back.
As long as it is not in a flood zone, I would be OK with it.

Here in NJ we have a Rehab code that helps a lot in these situations.

IS there an issue with mounting the new panel around the corner? Unless there is another obstruction that we can't see, it seems like the easiest solution all around.

Another window there. The whole porch has windows all the way around.

Actually, with the right meter main, it fit nicely without violation. The 30" width can go side to side and be legal