PANEL TORQUE
INSPECTION
City of Palo Alto (CPA)
Building Inspection Division
285 Hamilton Ave.
Inspection Request: 650 329-2496
Building Division
Drafted:12/19/08 Rev. Date: 12/16/12
General Requirements/Checklist for:
Residential and Commercial
Codes Enforced:
2010 CEC, 2008 NEC
Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC)
IVR# 246
The information provided in this document is general and intended as a guide only. Each project is unique and
additional requirements may be enforced as deemed appropriate.
WARNING
 Meter removal and service disconnect/reconnect are to be performed by utilities
personnel only. Contractors who tamper with CPA utilities equipment will be issued a
citation. Citations will be assessed at $500 per incident. PAMC 12.20.01.0
 Failure to pass this inspection will result in a $297 re-inspection fee
 ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS RESPONSIBILITIES
 All panels and feeders shall be de-energized prior to inspection/torque.
 Common Code Defect/Inspection Failure: Panels shall be vacuumed out (do not
blow out) and bus shall be cleaned with a dry cloth. Internal parts/equipment shall
not be damaged and shall be free of contaminates. CEC 110.12(C)
 Electrical contractor shall be on site with the appropriate size inch pound torque
wrench and torque screwdriver of the audible type (Ratcheting). Torques required shall
be near the mid range of the torque wrench. CEC 110.3(b)
 Torque all conductor terminations to the listed specification. Terminations shall include
main lugs, ground lugs, equipment ground and neutral bus bars, circuit breakers , boltin breaker screws, primary and secondary transformer connections. Note: Torque
specifications are identified on the panel or dead front cover of the panel and on the
circuit breakers.
 All conductors terminating at mechanical lugs shall be coated with an anti-oxidation
compound.
 Seal all unused openings. Seal must be equivalent to the enclosure material.
AFTER TORQUE INSPECTION IS COMPLETED

After panel has been torqued CPA Inspector shall apply Torque Verification Sticker with
date and CPA Inspector number.