Notes From The Field
06.28.2007 | ELECTRICAL
OVERSPRAY IN ELECTRICAL PANEL
I have never run across overspray in a main service panel, but I find overspray in feeder panels (sub panels) quite often. I never really understood why painters would be so lazy as to just spray the entire sub panel, but maybe they teach it as a shortcut in painters school? Really, how hard could it be to tape and mask off the panel? Obviously not as easy as caulking and painting the dead front cover on, because I find that more often. So what is the big deal with paint or texture overspray?
Overspray is especially bad if the bus bars are painted. In this picture it may be hard to see, but the breakers were either removed before it was sprayed, or the breakers were replaced. In either case, everything else was painted, including the bus bars. When I removed an unused breaker it was clearly visible. Painted bus bars increase resistance, which increases heat and can lead to fire or overheating. If you find a sub panel with overspray from either paint or texture it may need to be replaced. Anytime you find this you need to recommend further evaluation by a qualified and licensed contractor.
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