An electrical panel in your home ensures everyone around is safe as it contains circuit breakers that prevent electrical surges from causing harm. It’s a requirement by the electrical codes that the electrical panels be in a place that one can easily reach and identify. But is it possible to put it in your bedroom?
You can have an electrical panel in your bedroom. But ensure you follow the NEC regulations and place it in a well-illuminated place. Also, follow the safety and health protocols and install them where you can easily reach them when there’s an emergency in the house.
Read this article to understand more about having an electric panel in your bedroom.
Is It Possible to Have an Electric Panel in The Bedroom?
Yes. Installing an electrical panel in your bedroom is okay if you follow the national electric codes. These rules require you to practice safe electrical installation that meets the United States standards. Also, remember to install it where you can easily reach it during emergencies like fire outbreaks.
Where you Can’t Place Electrical Panel?
You shouldn’t place it in the bathroom, stairways, or closet. When mounting the electrical panel, ensure there’s horizontal clearance. This means you shouldn’t install it in corners or tight spaces around the house.
So, you need to install an electrical panel in your bedroom if it’s spacious and with enough clearance. After installation, ensure you do regular maintenance and inspect the unit while also enhancing the safety in the room.
NEC Codes
According to the NEC codes, if you fix this panel in your bedroom, make sure it has at least 36 inches of clearance space and be 30 inches wide. So, you shouldn’t have furniture like beds in front of the panel. You should also install the electric panel 30 inches under the ceiling and 78 inches away from the floor.
It should also be at a place where all can reach and disconnect the power supply in the house when need be. If your bedroom is not accessible to all the people in your house, don’t install the electrical panel there.
Can You Install an Electric Panel in Your Bedroom Closet?
No. The NEC codes don’t accept installing an electrical panel in a clothes closet. This is because the items in the closet are highly flammable. So, in case of an electric surge, it can fuel the fire bringing more damage to your house.
Additionally, when you have your electrical panel in the closet, it will be behind your clothes, and you’re likely to close the closet’s door. Identifying or reaching it will be a problem in cases of emergencies. This will risk the life of your family members and make you liable if there’s a fire outbreak. Furthermore, you’ll have to pay more electrical bills and experience less power supply as the items will interfere with normal operation.
Should You Sleep Near the Electrical Panel in The Bedroom?
Sleeping next to an electrical panel is not acceptable. It’s not only dangerous sleeping next to this panel but also a health risk. The electric panel can electrocute you if there’s a problem with the wiring connections. Also, the electrical panels emit Electro-Magnetic Field (EMF) radiations from time to time, and they’re not safe for human bodies.
Allowing EMF radiation to your body has harmful effects like interfering with your normal sleep pattern and having mood swings. The radiations will also make you experience frequent headaches, fatigue, and memory loss. In some cases, you might have heart, digestive, nervous system complications and be asthmatic. Such conditions will affect your health and overall performance, making you inactive.
So, it’s advisable to place your bed away from the electrical panel. This should be around 3.3 feet away from the electrical panel. Remember, there’s no best way of preventing the EMF radiations from reaching your body while asleep.
Can I Measure EMF Radiation in The Bedroom?
Yes, You can do this using an EMF meter. This device helps you identify the ideal location to place your bed in the bedroom to avoid suffering from radiation later in life. If you don’t know how to use it, work with an expert to help you read and identify the best location for your electric panel.
Which Is the Ideal Place to Install an Electrical Panel?
The NEC codes clearly state the rooms where you should fix the electrical panel. It should be in an accessible place near the service entrance. This means it shouldn’t be somewhere you can run the service wiring, not deep inside the room. But next to the service entrance, you’ll find the meter box, the mast, and the outside disconnect. It should also be a place where all the occupants in the house can easily reach and with enough clearance.
Here are the rules that will help you when identifying where to install your electrical panel;
- Make the electric panel accessible
When installing the electric panel, one major rule you should think of is its accessibility. Ensure it’s easy to reach and be able to open it without using keys. It shouldn’t be too low or too high for an average height adult to reach.
- Make it in an open and clear space
You need to identify a spacious place within the house to fix the electric panel. This shouldn’t be in the closets or below the stairways. It should also be located far from other electrical installations to avoid uncertainties.
- Place it away from obstacles
Another rule you need to bear in mind while installing your electric panel is removing all the obstacles in its way. These are things like beds, doors or chairs. No obstacles in the panel’s workspace will improve its effectiveness.
- Install it in a well-lit area
Avoid fixing the panel in a darker area to allow anyone trying to access it to see the switches. The dark spaces include spaces behind the door or staircase.
Bottom Line
You can have an electrical panel in your bedroom and have it work effectively. However, if you decide to place it in this room, make it accessible to all people in the house as tragedy can strike when least expected. Also, consider your safety and health while installing it and avoid having it in the clothes closet or next to your bed. Let it also be some feet away from the ceiling and floor, and remember to follow the NEC codes when installing.
