Basement laundry panel

The answer

The circuit directory is vague, has a blank and a question mark for installed breakers, and describes a circuit by an occupant's name instead of a specific location or use.

Correct choice: 1. The directory entries are too vague, and one names an occupant

408.4(A) requires every circuit and circuit modification to be legibly identified as to its clear, evident and specific purpose or use, in enough detail to distinguish it from all others, and says no circuit may be described in a manner that depends on transient conditions of occupancy. Lights, Plugs and Misc fit half the house, ? and a blank line identify nothing, and Jake's room means nothing once Jake moves out or the house sells. The hazard is real: a wrong guess means someone works on a circuit they think is dead.

How to fix it

Code references

• NEC 2023 408.4(A) — Circuit Directory or Circuit Identification

  Every circuit and circuit modification must be legibly identified as to its clear, evident, and specific purpose or use, with enough detail to distinguish each circuit from all others. Spare positions with unused overcurrent devices must be described as such, the directory goes on the face or inside of the panel door, and no circuit may be described in a way that depends on transient conditions of occupancy.

  Drills citing 408.4(A)

• NEC 2023 110.22(A) — Identification of Disconnecting Means, General

  Each disconnecting means must be legibly marked to indicate its purpose unless it is located and arranged so the purpose is evident, and the marking must be durable enough to withstand the environment.

  Drills citing 110.22(A)

2026 NEC:same rule and number. No 2026 change to 408.4(A) turned up; the last substantive revision found was the 2023 reorganization into a list with symbols and abbreviations, so the directory rule appears unchanged but was not confirmed against the 2026 text. Confidence: low

Minnesota

Why the other choices are wrong

• The empty spaces at the bottom must be marked SPARE on the directory. 408.4(A) requires spare positions that contain unused breakers to be described as spares. Open spaces with no breaker installed don't need a label.
• A circuit directory must be typed or printed, not handwritten. The Code requires the identification to be legible, clear and specific. Neat handwriting is fine; vague or missing entries are not.
• Nothing. This installation is compliant. Entries like Lights, Plugs, Misc, ?, a blank, and Jake's room don't let anyone pick the right breaker. 408.4(A) requires each circuit to be identified by its clear, evident and specific purpose.