Rule 240.81, panels mounted horizontally.

[waross]

I have just had a query from an old friend.
She has put her home up for sale and the realtor has told her that her horizontal breaker panel is a violation of rule 240.81 and must be changed.
This is in Canada and we do not have a rule 240.81 in the Canadian Electrical Code.
Horizontal panels are common here.
I can not find any rule prohibiting horizontal panels.
Am I missing something?
Yes, her house is in Canada.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[davidbeach]

If it only has a single row of breakers that are on with the handle up I wouldn’t see a problem, but most panels, mounted horizontally, would have two rows of breakers, one of which would have the breakers off with the handles up. That’s where the problem arises.

 

[waross]

Hi David.
I think that this is based on the rule that knife switches, when mounted vertically, must be mounted so that gravity will tend to open the switch or the switch must be capable of being latched in the open position. (CEC).
Apparently that rule is applied to circuit breakers in rule 240.81
The knife switch rule is not applied to circuit breakers in the Canadian code.
I have a little more information:
The son of the prospective buyers quoted an NEC rule in Canada, and further claimed that it will cost $20,000 to change.
This appears to be a failed attempt to knock $20,000 of the price of the house.
The answer to electrical questions is not always electrical. grin

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[LionelHutz]

Ya, sounds about right. There is no average homeowner out there that would care which direction the panel was mounted.

 

[waross]

Thank you all for your replies.
Bill

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[che12345]

Hi All,
I am of the opinion that any Rules, Regulations, Recommendations, Guidelines etc., are drafted based on [safety] and [operational convention].
a) on safety : Breakers* and fuses* current rating/tripping characteristic tests, temperature rise tests etc., are carried out with the DUT* (usually) mounted on a vertical plane. An additional test on a horizontal plane is not stipulated. It is "assumed" that DUT* rating/tripping characteristics etc., are not [significantly] affected. Attention: rating may be affected when the DUT* with relays or small contactors placed [up-side-down] on a horizontal plane e.g. on a ceiling,
b) trip free requirement: A beaker shall be [trip free] in any positions viz. vertical, horizontal, bottom-side-up and up-side-down. "trip free" means that the internal contacts shall trip [open] even the external handle is deliberately jammed or by any reasons.
c) operational convention: when the DUT* is mounted on a (vertical) plane, when the handle is in fully [up] is "on" or "close" or is indicated by I. When the handle is fully [down] is "off" or "open" or is indicated by O. When the DUT* is mounted on a (horizontal) plane, it is [acceptable] to close the contact by moving the handle towards the left or the right; or up; but not down.
Che Kuan Yau (Singapore)