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What's Wrong Here?

Mar 1, 2004 12:00 PM, By Joe Tedesco, NEC Columnist

How well do you know the Code?

Hint: Looks like someone's been doing a little troubleshooting work on this fire alarm system.

Scott Stuart, a student at Triangle Tech in DuBois, Pa., generated this lengthy list of references to point out the violations noted in this photo:

110.12(A) — unused knockouts in the metal box must be closed
110.14(A) — eliminate exposed bare wires
314.28(C) — all boxes must have approved covers
314.16 and 314.16(A) — box fill calculation clearly not followed
760.10 — circuit identification is missing
760.30(A)(1) — place exposed or fished wires in a concealed space

Bill Gallus, an electrician with Habitat for Humanity, Johnstown, Pa., referred to this installation as a “rat's nest” and noted several violations. “Single conductors must be installed as part of an approved wiring method (conduit and box), and conductors of the same circuit must be contained within the same raceway (conduit) [300.3(A) and (B)],” he wrote. “A box or conduit body is required at each conductor splice point (meaning the splice belongs inside the box or conduit body) (300.15). Junction boxes and conduit bodies must have covers [314.28(C)]. The metal box must be grounded (250.110). Workmanship is very bad and questionable (110.12 and 760.6).”

Mike Groff, instructor/electrical designer, GG&S Merchant Systems, Allentown, Pa., added, “Looks like someone was troubleshooting this system and got lost!” He correctly identified the missing wire connectors and noted, “Exposed free ends of wires are required to be spliced or joined with splicing devices identified for the use or covered with an insulation equivalent to the conductors [110.14(B)].”