Tin Can Y'all Position A Subpanel In An Attic

Installing a subpanel inwards the attic mightiness seem similar a great idea, simply it is not equally easy every bit it seems! The installation must be compliant amongst all codes as well as regulations to ensure safety inwards your habitation. If you lot comply with these regulations when installing your subpanel inward the attic, you lot tin can be assured of safety practices too peace of heed.

When it comes to electrics, I’m ever afterward the approach that brings peace of heed! So, let’s have a wait at installing a subpanel in the attic.

You tin can set a subpanel in the attic provided the clearances of 6’6” height, 36” depth, in addition to thirty” width are possible. Nothing should be in the space to a higher place as well as below the subpanel together with the panel should live easily accessible. You likewise ask to ensure that the attic is properly ventilated.

IRC, NEC, in addition to Local Codes Govern Subpanel Locations

The IRC, NEC, in addition to local regime inward every State regulate the edifice manufacture standards for all Commercial together with Domestic buildings. The codes standardize potentially hazardous systems in the edifice, ensuring the right edifice methods are complied alongside to guarantee a safe and practical edifice.

These standardizations likewise let tradespeople to know what is going on inward the organization past next the code rather than deciphering the previous tradesman’sec go.

When installing a subpanel in the attic, Section E3405 of the IRC applies. This section regulates the location of the equipment likewise as the working space in addition to clearances required.

IRC regulations are applicable for all l states inward the US, but local building codes should be used together with the IRC regulations, equally local codes replace the IRC regulations.

All subpanel installations should adapt to the National Electrical Code (NEC) standards.

How Accessible Is Your Attic?

IRC Section 3405.6 stipulates the required access to the working space inwards conjunction amongst Section 110.26(C) (ane) of the NEC.

Access to the attic must let a rubber entrance for the maintenance and repairs to the subpanel together with equipment. Good practice is to ensure that the entrance to the attic is unobstructed at all times.

The next measurements employ to a space with limited access similar an attic:

If the equipment is installed to a higher place a position-inward ceiling, the accessible opening must live 22″ by 22″ (559 by 559 mm).

Does The Attic Allow Proper Clearances?

The figure below depicts the required subpanel clearances.

Section 3405.i of the IRC stipulates:

The working space must live clear together with unobstructed from the flooring to a meridian of half dozen.five ft (ii thousand) or the superlative of the equipment, whichever is greater.

In Section 3405.two it provides further clearance dimensions:

The acceptable width of the working space must live the width of the equipment enclosure, or thirty″ (762 mm), or whichever is greater.

Enclosure doors as well as hinged panels should open up to at least 90 degrees.

The infinite inwards front end of the enclosure should comply alongside NEC requirements 110.26 (A)(1).

The maximum pinnacle of the working space must live the pinnacle necessary to install the equipment.

The exception to this dominion for existing home units as per NEC 110.26(A)(iii):

Panelboards of 200 amperes or less are permitted in spaces where the summit is less than 6.v ft (two 1000).

According to Section 3405.iii of the IRC:

The indoor infinite equal to the depth in addition to width of the subpanel, extending from the floor upwardly to a height of vi ft (2 one thousand) to a higher place the panelboard or the ceiling, whichever is lower, must alone household the electric installation.

Equipment, pipage, too ducts other than those used for the subpanel must not be placed over or under the subpanel enclosure.

The surface area above the panelboard can contain foreign systems provided that protection is provided to avoid damages to the electrical equipment of the subpanel caused past condensation, leaks, too breaks.

The exception to this dominion is that suspended ceilings alongside removable panels volition live allowed within the vi ft (two one thousand) space.

Don’t Store Things Near The Subpanel

For safety reasons, the entrance to as well as expanse around the subpanel should live clear of any obstructions. If yous necessitate to go to the subpanel inward an emergency, yous should not trip up over items stored inward the fashion!

If unused items are stored nearly the subpanel, they could be a potential burn down take a chance as well as catch alight if at that place are whatever sparks from the subpanel.

You can detect this dominion in Section 3405.5 of the IRC:

The working space must not be used equally a storage surface area.

Subpanels must not live installed inward clothes closets, bathrooms, or over the steps of a stairway as per NEC 110.26(b). These areas are mostly used equally storage locations and are not permitted installation areas according to the regulations.

Is The Attic Lighting Code-Appropriate?

An attic is generally night and dusty, and so if yous are going to install the subpanel in the attic, you postulate to be able to run across what you are doing during the installation process and during whatever required maintenance.

To ensure this the IRC includes Section 3405.vii which says that:

Artificial lighting must be provided for all working spaces installed indoors in addition to must non live controlled past automatic agency exclusively.

If the space is illuminated past adjacent light, the additional lighting outlets are not a requirement.

Exception ane of Section E3903.ii, in accordance with NEC 110.26 (D), permits lighting outlets to live controlled by wall-mounted command devices.

Select The Proper Enclosure

Regulations govern the correct enclosure for prophylactic purposes.

Section E3404.4 stipulates:

Enclosures of panelboards rated 600 volts must be marked alongside the enclosure-type issue equally shown in Table E3404.4 (Table 110.28) for indoor use.

The enclosure must protect against:
- Incidental contact with the equipment
- Falling dirt too liquids
- Circulating in addition to settling airborne dust, lint, as well as fibers
- Splashing H2O
- Oil too coolant seepage, spraying as well as splashing
- Corrosive agents
- Temporary as well as prolonged submersion

Attic roof windows and a closeup of a ridge vent

Your Ventilation Must Also Be Up-To-Code

If you lot have decided that an attic is a bang-up place to install a subpanel, bank check the IRC in addition to NEC regulations to see if y'all comply alongside the code regarding the expanse’second ventilation. Check your local codes together with regulations for compliance also before you start out alongside the installation.

Proper ventilation is e'er required in the attic to foreclose the subpanel from overheating together with maybe exploding! There are many unlike ways to provide the appropriate ventilation needed inward your attic.

One of the virtually effective ways to supply the proper ventilation and allow airflow inward the attic is using ridge vents. Read through our interesting article, Are Ridge Vents Required By Code, for farther insights into this subject.

Check your bath fan to encounter where the exhaust fan vents when removing the hot air from the bath. If it vents into the attic, yous volition have to add together ducting to vent the air exterior the household. Hot air billowing into the attic from the bath tin can live rattling unsafe to the subpanel as well as crusade it to overheat!

Furthermore, dryers in addition to bath fans are non permitted to vent into the attic every bit per the IRC.

Our informative articles: Dryer Venting Into the Attic: Is It Safe? too x Reasons Why A Bathroom Fan Should non Be Vented Into The Attic, volition render all the information that yous require regarding venting into the attic as well as how it will bear upon your subpanel installation.

Advantages Of Putting A Subpanel In The Attic

Choosing to install your subpanel inwards the attic will have several advantages. Some of the best reasons are for practical purposes, whereas others are to keep the aesthetics of your dwelling.

These are our best reasons to install a subpanel inward this location:

Out of the mode. Installing the subpanel inwards the attic prevents it from using upwardly wall space in the dwelling house together with keeps it safely away from people!

Aesthetically pleasing. The subpanel together with cables could hand your dwelling an industrial await rather than a chic wait which mightiness live the best reason for installing it in the attic out of sight!

Easy distribution betoken. A subpanel inward the attic provides tardily routing for cables to other rooms that could otherwise live difficult to access.

While these are all first-class reasons to install a subpanel inward the attic, you cannot install it inwards this location if it violates whatever accessibility, headspace, and clearance regulations stipulated past the IRC.

Disadvantages Of Putting A Subpanel In The Attic

Probably the biggest disadvantage to installing a subpanel in the attic is accessibility. While it power run into all code requirements, an attic is not the about accessible place to go into and out of.

These are some of the disadvantages when installing a subpanel inwards the attic:

Climbing into together with out of the attic requires planning as well as belike another soul holding your ladder piece y'all climb upwardly too downward!

If a switch trips, it isn’t easy to rapidly access the tripped circuit to reset it.

Because it’second a low-traffic area, mice, other rodents, and creepy crawlies tin can invade the subpanel in addition to chew wires, causing disruptions to the electrical render or builds nests, which could go a fire take a chance.