Does an Electrical Panel Need a Cover?

Electrical panels are the primary outlets that control the flow of electricity to different areas of an office or building equipment. Though, the regulations related to electrical panels can be quite confusing, especially when it comes to the cover of the panel. Many people believe that all electrical panels must have a front cover or door on them, but that is not actually the case. Interestingly, most regulations only say that these panels need to have a ‘dead front,’ which just means that nothing on the front of the panel should have a live current that could cause an injury, fire, or other problems. Of course, the easiest way to ensure the panel has a dead front is to simply have a cover or door on it, which accomplishes the goal immediately.

When an electrical panel is correctly installed, however, it will have a dead front even without a cover on it. This is because all live wires going into each circuit breaker should be positioned so that they come out of the breaker and stay behind the panel until they reach the nearest exit. In addition, all open circuit breaker spots that are not being used should have a face-plate or other part in place that blocks the area off so that no one can touch it by accident. Therefore, one could reach into an electrical panel with no cover on it and still not be at any risk of electrocution. Of course, this is all assuming that everything was installed correctly and according to all relevant regulations.

While it is true that an electrical panel door is not strictly required in every situation, it is generally a good idea to have one in place. This type of panel can provide a lot of benefits, even beyond just improved safety. For example, having the panel covered will help to keep out dust, debris, and for outdoor panels, any rain or snow. They can also help to keep the panel labels in good shape so that they are easier to see and read when needed.