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Doug Miller

In article , wrote:
Swingman writes:
On 6/3/2010 12:46 PM, -MIKE- wrote:
On 6/3/10 12:24 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
Although there are pretty good reasons why one should not place a breaker
panel (or fuse box) in a closet. I've seen many houses from the 50's and
60's with breaker panels in closets; but the code changed because of
the obvious fire hazard.

scott

Ok, I'm an idiot. It's so obvious, I'm oblivious. :-)

What's make a closet more of a fire hazard for a breaker box?

Don't recall the exact article but somewhere in the NEC for a number of
years has been a phrase stating that overcurrent protection devices
should not be located in the vicinity of easily flammable material ...
or words to that effect.

Yes, particularly with older-style coverless breaker boxes[*]. An
overcurrent condition may cause sparking, which with clothing'**] nearby;
fire.

[*] The push type with the on/off window, in particular; I forget the
manufacturer.

Push-Matic. Those are weird breakers -- little square things.