Darryl Dempsey, an electrical inspector from Hillsborough County, Fla., said that the local gas company installed this gas line to supply a water heater in the garage of a new house under construction. They wanted to do a neat job, so they proceeded to install the gas line inside of the wall. Their only obstacle was a 2-in. rigid nonmetallic electrical conduit that ran from the meter socket enclosure underground and up into the garage wall into the main electrical panel. They cut away a piece of the conduit to make room for the gas pipe so it would pass through to the water heater located on the other side of the panel. Keep in mind that the wiring was already in this conduit, so when it was cut, so were the cables inside. The electrical rough inspection previously passed inspection. I suppose the installer used the duct tape to pull the wires toward the front of the conduit to make a clear path for the gas pipe to pass through. It may also have been a feeble attempt to protect the already damaged wires.
Attention CEE News readers. Do you have a photo of a glaring Code violation?
E-mail your digital photos and descriptions to CodeViolations@JoeTedesco.com or mail them to 350 North St., Boston, MA 02113. Your photo may be published in our upcoming photo gallery of America's worst NEC violations.
