An electrical panel generally provides electricity to all the fixtures, outlets and rooms within a house. It includes breakers or fuses that may necessitate periodic service or replacement. Building codes for residential structures in Craigieburn specify appropriate locations for standard electrical panels. This ensures that they can be used and installed safely by professionals offering electrical services.
Electrical panels generally hang on the walls of basement or mount within interior walls. They may, however, need horizontal clearance, which prevents their mounting in corners or some other tight space. Their standard installation procedures specify certain limits on where they can be placed. For a piece of interior wall, the panel should not be placed anymore closer than the space between the wall and a stud. If it is a basement, then the panel may be attached near a wall in the corner. But that is only if enough clearance exists for the line from outside and sufficient room for wiring, which leads all throughout the house.
Internal guidelines for builders or building codes may also provide details about the amount of clearance which has to be left near a panel for maintenance purposes, service and inspection. The space between adjacent walls and panels is also controlled by the layout of a home as well as its requirement for safety. High temperatures and sparks are possible in case an electrical panel experiences surge or accidentally fails. This means it cannot be placed near combustible items. There are some building codes that also prohibit its installation within closets used for storing clothes.
Although there is no restriction on home-owners installing their own electrical panels, the task can be extremely dangerous to undertake for a person who lacks sufficient experience and knowledge. Besides that, if, during inspection, a personally installed panel is found to have been completed unsatisfactorily, a licensed contractor would be hired to perform the installation once again. During a remodelling or home building project, therefore, it is utmost important to consult with a reputed and licensed electrician for determining the ideal spot to install electrical panels. In addition to that, consultation must also be sought for proper placement of household fixtures and wiring. However, the most important task is to find a good electrician well acquainted with different building codes covering the jurisdiction. This is because these codes vary from place to place and their violation can result in unnecessary fines.