What's Wrong Here?

Dec 1, 2003 12:00 PM, By Joe Tedesco, NEC Columnist

How well do you know the Code? Think you can spot violations the original installer either ignored or couldn't identify? Here's your chance to moonlight as an electrical inspector and second-guess someone else's work from the safety of your living room or office. Joe Tedesco, who has a knack for finding shoddy electrical work, did the dirty work and found this mess. Now it's your turn to identify the violation.

Hint: Has anyone seen an exit sign? How are you supposed to get out of this parking garage?

Herb Hartley, president, Hartley Electric & Alarm Co., Inc., Sims, N.C., pointed out that the electrical metallic tubing(EMT) is improperly connected to the sign. The conductors aren't housed in abox or placed within the sign enclosure, and there are exposed open splices. The water or sprinkler pipe is also blocking the exit sign, clearly a violation of the Life Safety Code, NFPA 101, 2000 Edition Chapter 7, which states “the signshall be clearand visible.”

Thomas Blalock, maintenance manager, Allen Family Foods, Laurel, Del., and Jean-Jacques Ahounou, electrical engineer, EIT, Highland Associates, New York City, also note that neither the exit sign is illuminated nor the raceway is properly terminated or secured, setting up an improper grounding situation and exposed live wires.

Per 358.2, EMT is defined as “an unthreaded thinwall raceway of circular cross section designed for the physical protection and routing of conductors and cables and for use as an equipment grounding conductor when installed utilizing appropriate fittings.”