Getting Horizontal- Better in bed than your electrical panel

Chelan and Leavenworth Home Inspection Services

So I had a recent home inspection and found an interesting installation of the main electrical panel. It was in the horizontal position. This is an odd installation for sure. No offense to our neighbors up north (they allow horizontal installations) but this is weird installation for the us down south. It even had an electrical inspection sticker on it but this indicates some messing around happened after the inspection.

Here is the catch for us in US, electrical panels can be installed horizontally if is impractical to install the panel in the vertical position as long as the circuit breakers clearly indicate whether they are “on” when in the “up” position.

Here is how the code presents this-

NEC 240.33 Vertical Position.  

Enclosures for overcurrent devices shall be mounted in a vertical position unless that is shown to be impracticable. Circuit breaker enclosures shall be permitted to be installed horizontally where the circuit breaker is installed in accordance with 240.81. Listed busway plug-in units shall be permitted to be mounted in orientations corresponding to the busway mounting position.  

NEC 240.81 Indicating.  

Circuit breakers shall clearly indicate whether they are in the open “off” or closed “on” position.  

Where circuit breaker handles are operated vertically rather than rotationally or horizontally, the “up” position of the handle shall be the “on” position.

So to put it in general we are required to install enclosures for overcurrent devices in a vertical position unless it physically impossible or very impractical to do so.

It is also thought for us down here in the US that a wall-mounted vertical position for electrical panels (panelboards) is desirable to have easier access, more natural hand operation, normal swinging or closing of doors or covers (which I found), and legibility of the manufacturer's markings.

In addition, this also means electrical panels (panelboards or fuse enclosures) are not to be installed in a horizontal position where the back of the enclosure is mounted on the ceiling or the floor.  So do not even think about doing that.

Compliance with the up position will limit the number of pole spaces available on a panelboard if the cabinet is mounted in a horizontal position on a wall so you really could be limiting the available circuits.

“If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.”

Red Adair

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…  

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