Should Inspectors Remove Electrical Panel Covers?

[jar546]

After decades in the field, I've removed and replaced tens of thousands of electrical panel covers and thousands of dead fronts. With that volume of work, inevitably, things occasionally go awry. Power can be accidentally shut off, breakers might get knocked out of position, and yes, sometimes sparks fly.

One incident that stands out involved an electrician who had removed a panel cover for inspection. After I completed the inspection and asked him to replace the cover, a small arc flash occurred, and a circuit breaker blew. The cause? A wire had been pinched between the cover screw and the interior side of the panel. Had I been alone and removed the cover, I would have been responsible for repairing the wire and reconnecting the breaker.

This brings us to a longstanding debate: Should inspectors remove and replace panel covers when no qualified personnel are on-site? From both a personal and professional standpoint, my answer is no. It's the contractor's responsibility to ensure that work remains accessible and uncovered for inspection. Inspectors should carry tools like meters, flashlights, and cameras, not screwdrivers.

That said, I've occasionally bent this rule. There was a time I arrived at a home where an elderly lady was alone, preparing to leave for vacation. The inspection needed to be completed, so I removed the panel cover myself, despite my usual policy. I couldn't justify delaying her plans over a rule that, while grounded in safety, also requires some
common sense.

The core issues here are safety, liability, and workload for inspectors. In my jurisdiction, if no one is present and panel covers or dead fronts are still in place, the inspection fails due to noncompliance with FBC 110, which aligns with IBC and IRC 110. Moreover, inspections can't be conducted adequately if dead fronts remain installed; we've had instances where electricians removed the cover but left the dead front, necessitating its removal before proceeding.

I invite fellow professionals to share their experiences and thoughts on this matter. How do you handle situations where panel covers are in place and no qualified personnel are on-site? Have you faced similar dilemmas, and what policies have you implemented to address them?

Let's discuss and learn from each other's experiences.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

i take the dead front off before the power is on for a service inspection. If I need to inspect the panel when power is on I turn off the main but only for residential inspections and I use my clip-on flashlight. For ccommercial I require the electriction to do it.

 

[BN4537]

Your approach mirrors mine. The contractors need to make things accessible for inspections, but I will bend the rule a little when necessary.

 

[steveray]

Sameilar....

 

[ICE]

To answer the question with anything other than a hard no is unconscionable......for you. I, on the other hand, have worked with electricity my entire life. People like me are why we have tamper resistant receptacles. My father was an electrical contractor and he took me to work from the age of ten. My generation had shop classes in school. We can fix things and relish the challenge.

The typical American of today not only can't fix anything, he doesn't have tools. A friend asked me to look at a house that his daughter and son-in-law were considering to purchase. Nice enough of a house in Santa Cruz, Ca. It did not have a garage. I said, "David, there's no garage." He said that the son-in-law wouldn't know what to do with a garage. So how does that transfer to inspectors and panel covers?

Thirty years ago this was not a topic for consideration. Nobody gave it a second thought. We opened anything we were comfortable opening. I suppose that there was a rule back then as there is now which prevented inspectors from using tools. So here's the thing about that, men were men and we didn't have girl inspectors. Ya I know, that's misogynistic. Well don't be looking for an apology.

The workforce of today has blurred lines to the point that it is hard to tell who can be trusted around electricity and who can't be trusted... so nobody can open any panel covers.

 

[jj1289]

Note on inspection record that panel cover was installed and an inspection is required within panel. Reschedule the inspection

 

[BN4537]

The workforce of today has blurred lines to the point that it is hard to tell who can be trusted around electricity and who can't be trusted...

That is the truth. I have stopped contractors before and taken the cover off myself because I could tell they were about to get hurt or make a mess.

 

[SCBO1]

I have removed a panel cover or two, I've held the cover so the sparky can get the screws started, I've held his flashlight, held my phone light for them cuz most of the time change-outs are in the dark without juice.

I use to carry a 4 n1 screwdriver with me, not anymore and I'm not going to carry anymore crap, I have two cell phones, a tape measure, ink pen, marker for marking studs, clip board with inspection sheet and sometimes an ideal circuit tester that I have to remember not to leave behind, sometimes a level and sometimes a dowel rod for testing smokes.

IMO, I think It's the Sparky's domain and he should be there to open and close his panel or switchgear.
Solar projects have to have a tech there and a ladder.
Roof inspections require the roofer to provide a ladder.
Plumbers are required to have the pipe and fittings exposed, I don't carry a shovel.

IMO the work needs to be visible and accessible for inspection, so I can get to my next baby sitting job!

Signed,
Mr. Grumpy

 

[ICE]

That is the truth. I have stopped contractors before and taken the cover off myself because I could tell they were about to get hurt or make a mess.

Sometimes I just stand back and let it happen.

 

[ICE]

if no one is present and panel covers or dead fronts are still in place

What if no one is present and the panel covers and dead fronts are removed? That happens a hundred times every day in Southern California. I find it just like this. They don't even close the cover.

Update to eliminate any possible confusion….the panels are energized.




Sometimes they remove the cover as well.


It became a thing with the advent of the solar industry. It has since spread to everybody.

 

[jar546]

What if no one is present and the panel covers and dead fronts are removed?

Great! The inspector has access. The contractor is responsible for the job site. I've had that happen many times. I just do the inspection, take photos and walk away.

 

[ICE]

Great! The inspector has access. The contractor is responsible for the job site. I've had that happen many times. I just do the inspection, take photos and walk away.

You walk away from exposed, energized, shiny metal? As in the examples that I posted?

Did I not make it clear that the panels are energized? I will edit in that info.

 

[jar546]

You walk away from exposed, energized, shiny metal? As in the examples that I posted?

Yes, have and will do it again. It is not my responsibility. It is the responsibility of the contractor. They created that condition, not me. Sleep like a baby.

 

[Yikes]

Yes, have and will do it again. It is not my responsibility. It is the responsibility of the contractor. They created that condition, not me. Sleep like a baby.

Architect (not city inspector) here.
Is this sort of a catch-22? In order to inspect what's inside, the cover needs to be off. But doesn't the code also directly or indirectly require the cover to be on in order for it to be considered code compliant, or at least compliant with its listing?

I'm a firm believer in leaving the contractor responsible for physically manipulating these components, and my workman's Comp insurance company would agree. But under that scenario, you couldn't sign it off in one visit unless you first inspected then also waited around while they re-installed the cover.

 

[ICE]

Yes, have and will do it again. It is not my responsibility. It is the responsibility of the contractor. They created that condition, not me. Sleep like a baby.

I’m not sure what to think of this. You being the last responsible person to observe the situation puts you on the hook if someone is injured or worse…. killed.

 

[jar546]

I’m not sure what to think of this. You being the last responsible person to observe the situation puts you on the hook if someone is injured or worse…. killed.

I did not create the problem. What am I supposed to do, stand watch? Call the FD? Call the PD? The contractor created the issue. How do I know that the contractor doesn't have social anxiety and is watching the inspection from a vehicle, and will put the cover back and make it right? I did not create it; it happens all the time. Not my problem. I am not the electrical safety police for means and methods on the job site.

 

[jar546]

The thread is about whether or not taking the electrical covers and dead fronts off is the inspector's responsibility. Maybe we should stick with that.

 

[ICE]

Maybe we should stick with that.

I’d prefer to chew you out some more. You can’t rationalize such an egregious lapse in judgement. You ask,”What should I do” like you don’t know.

 

[jar546]

I’d prefer to chew you out some more. You can’t rationalize such an egregious lapse in judgement. You ask,”What should I do” like you don’t know.

I am tone deaf to the drum you are beating.