National Electrical Code

What's Wrong Here?

May 21, 2004

Hint: Does this look like a weather-proof installation to you?

These street-side junction boxes were originally installed to supply tree lighting fixtures along a high-traffic street in Boston. The tree lighting fixtures have since been removed, and someone decided it would be a good idea to remove the junction box cover plate and install a GFCI receptacle and outdoor weather-proof type cover in its place. As you can see, the unit has since been damaged, exposing live wires to the public in the process. This situation isn’t uncommon along this stretch of roadway and poses a serious electrical safety hazard. This installation would never meet the requirements of 110.2. In fact, I’m almost tempted to send a letter to the Mayor on this one.

About the Author

Joe Tedesco

Tedesco served the industry in many roles during his career. He was a director, senior electrical code instructor for National Technology Transfer, Inc. and American Trainco, Inc.. He was also a codes, standards and seminar specialist for the International Association of Electrical Inspectors and an electrical field service specialist for the National Fire Protection Association in Quincy, Mass. He ran his own business as an NEC consultant and is a Massachusetts licensed master electrician and journeyman electrician and certified electrical inspector (one and two family 2A; General 2B, and Plan Review, 2C). Tedesco also wrote articles for CEE News and EC&M (Code Violations Illustrated and What's Wrong Here?) for more than 15 years and helped launched the Moving Violations video series.