Wrong panel enclosure screws

[Joseph Tribuzio]

I wont put the wrong panel screws back in ( pointed).
At a recent inspection, the Realtor got very huffy with me and demanded i put the home " back in the condition i found it" .

I flat out refused to put them back in, especially since the dead front cover was also missing breaker knockouts- so no substantial protection anyway.

My question is: do i have to put them back in if i feel it is unsafe?

Is there a law i can reference, i don't quite recall exactly but i remember something to that effect.

[Robert Meier]

IMO unless you want to make a repair and accept the liability related to that repair I would put it back the same way I found it.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

So if they were all pointed, would you leave the cover completely off to prove your point that it's a hazard and create a greater hazard?

If you see a wire could be damaged by a particular screw, leave that one out. Otherwise, put them in to secure the cover to prevent someone from getting hurt.

[Bob Elliott]

Might be a good idea to carry a few with you.
If there were no wires in the way they should always be put back to secure the panel cover.

Example:
Ledger board is nailed in so I will remove them.

[Joseph Tribuzio]

OK, thanks guys, i see your points - but the dead front was missing many breaker knockouts. So it was unsafe in any case.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

You should always leave the property in the same - or better - condition than it was when you arrived. To leave the cover off, the panel is less safe.

If I felt that the panel cover could not be safely replaced, I would have called an electrician myself.

[Michael Larson]

I have on occasion "blunted" a pointy screw for my own safety.

I also carry a few extra panel screws with me.

[KEVIN WOOD]

I agree with Joe.
What I do is tell me client,take a picture of the screws and replace them back on the dead front in the panel making sure no wires are near the screws.
Take another picture of the panel with knock outs missing and carry on with inspection.Then eye roll my eyes at my clients.

[Jackie R. Minchey]

I recall a couple of years ago i was removing a panel screww that happened to be sharp pointed, evidently when it was installed, it damaged the sheathing on a hot #12 wire, but the arc hard created a small valley in the screw that was not touching..when I started backing the screw out...pow, it tripped main breaker, fried the circuits on my electric screwdriver and shot it across the garage, luckily had on rubber soled shoes! I did not replace that particular screw, but took photo, then made sure that the remaining screws did not touch wires when i replaced the panel...then notified everyone at the end of the dangers...if someone lese would have done that without rubber soled shoes, could have been a serious accident! What's worse, it was a new construction inspect!

[Joseph Tribuzio]

Originally Posted by mlarson

I have on occasion "blunted" a pointy screw for my own safety.

I also carry a few extra panel screws with me.

THANK YOU MICHEAL , thats a really good idea. Silly question, but are all panel screws same thread and size?

[Joseph Tribuzio]

Originally Posted by jminchey

I recall a couple of years ago i was removing a panel screww that happened to be sharp pointed, evidently when it was installed, it damaged the sheathing on a hot #12 wire, but the arc hard created a small valley in the screw that was not touching..when I started backing the screw out...pow, it tripped main breaker, fried the circuits on my electric screwdriver and shot it across the garage, luckily had on rubber soled shoes! I did not replace that particular screw, but took photo, then made sure that the remaining screws did not touch wires when i replaced the panel...then notified everyone at the end of the dangers...if someone lese would have done that without rubber soled shoes, could have been a serious accident! What's worse, it was a new construction inspect!

good example. The screws I were looking at were kinda long and the panel wiring was all over, so hesitant to stick my hand in there and start moving wires around ya know? Mine was a house flipper. total cheap rehab crap workmanship all over the place.

[agallatin]

I have seen many panels where the original screws were in the dead front , but the threads were stripped and half the dead front was hanging out enouugh that you could stick your hand between the dead front and the panel . My own panel was like that after the electrician left .

[KEVIN WOOD]

That is why I do what I said I do. Including making sure the screws I pull out go into the same place.
If you change them and screw up the threads you could be creating a problem.
If you drop a screw behind something, carry one long screw driver that has been magnetized by a speaker.
If you can't get it [note it on the report] and tell the Home owner.

[agallatin]

Good point Kevin ! I'm going to get one of those screwdrivers .