Circuit breaker orientation. Up, down and all around.       Wenatchee Home Inspections

When performing home inspections on older homes/housing stock you often will run into odd, or out of the norm installations.

 

One such case was an older home with a panelboard installed horizontally versus the normal installation of a  vertical installation. This is not a normal installation of a panelboard. But the question is, Is it wrong? If so why?

Now there are some practical reason why this is not good, code or no code.  On this particular home the cover wants to keep shutting on you which is actually dangerous because of the weight of the cover it could actually injure you when trying to access the circuit breakers. Some of these old dead fronts are pretty darn heavy.


But lets get back to the question at hand, is it okay? Well the answer is "maybe and "it depends"

Prior to 1975 the code is silent on orientation. So in 1975 the National Electrical Code added Sections 240.33 and 240.81.

1975 NEC, Section 240.33 Vertical Position.

Enclosures for overcurrent devices shall be mounted in a vertical position unless in individual instances this is shown to be impracticable.

1975 NEC, Section 240.81 Indicating (Bold underline is mine)

Circuit breakers shall clearly indicate whether they are in the open (off) or closed (on) position. Where circuit breaker handles on switchboards are operated vertically rather than rotationally or horizontally, the ‘up’ position of the handle shall be the ‘on’ position.

Hold on here, there is a word that needs to be understood, “Switchboard”. This is where semantics comes into play. A “Switchboard” is a different beast than a “Panelboard”

Here is how the code defines these two type of boards-

Switchboard.

A large single panel, frame, or assembly of panels on which are mounted on the face, back, or both, switches, overcurrent and other protective devices, buses, and usually instruments. These assemblies are generally accessible from the rear as well as from the front and are not intended to be installed in cabinets.

These are typical in commercial settings.

Panelboard.

A single panel or group of panel units designed for assembly in the form of a single panel, including buses and automatic overcurrent devices, and equipped with or without switches for the control of light, heat, or power circuits; designed to be placed in a cabinet or cutout box placed in or against a wall, partition, or other support; and accessible only from the front.

So we can see that the orientation of the circuit breaker handles is only applied to those installed in Switchboards, it does not apply to Panelboards which what we normally see in residential.

So now comes the 1984 NEC and there is some modification of Sections 240.33,  240.81.

In section 240.33 there is an exception now included-

Section 240.33 Vertical Position

Enclosures for overcurrent devices shall be mounted in a vertical position

Exception: Where this is shown to be impracticable and complies with Section 240-81.

The handbook for 1984 added this notation.

“This section indicates that a wall mounted, vertical position is desirable to achieve easier access, natural hand operation, normal swing or closing of doors or covers, and legibility of manufacturer’s markings.”

Now the other change of note is that the term “Panelboard” was now included in 1984, 240.81.

1984 NEC, Section 240.81 Indicating

Where circuit breaker handles on switchboards or in panelboards are operated vertically, rather than rotationally or horizontally, the ‘up’ position of the handle shall be the ‘on’ position

In the 1990 NEC  section 240.81 removed the terms “Switchboard and Panelboard”

1990 NEC section 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.

Then in the 1999 NEC  we get another slight modification of the vertical position.

1999 NEC Section 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.

The modification of this section is to deal with busways and their various attachments. Here are  examples of circuit breakers on a busway (from Square D).

So this get you to our modern version of these code sections.

“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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