What's Wrong Here?

Dec 1, 2007 12:00 PM, By Joe Tedesco, NEC Columnist

Can you spot the Code violations?

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: Exposed and undressed.

October Winners

John Kellman, Sisi Liang, Blair Dury, and Charles Howe, of McFarland-Johnson, Inc., Binghamton, N.Y., collectively prepared this response. “Section 314.17(A) states, ‘openings through which conductors enter shall be adequately closed.’ This requirement is clearly not met at the top of the box. Article 110 states ‘outdoor electrical equipment shall be installed in suitable enclosures and shall be protected from accidental contact by authorized personnel…’ The opening on top of the box and the open cover allow unauthorized access. Section 314.15(A), 314.40(A), and 300.6, respectively, state ‘in damp or wet locations, boxes, conduit bodies, and fittings shall be placed or equipped so as to prevent moisture from entering or accumulating within the box, conduit body, or fitting,’ ‘metal boxes, conduit bodies…shall be corrosion resistant or shall be well-galvanized, enameled, or otherwise properly coated inside and out to prevent corrosion,’ and ‘…boxes…shall be of materials suitable for the environment in which they are to be installed.’ This box does not appear to be properly NEMA rated for outdoor use, nor has it resisted corrosion. It fails to suit its environment. Additionally, Sec. 314.44, related to marking, states that ‘All boxes and conduit bodies…and the like shall be durably and legibly marked with the manufacturer's name or trademark.’ We cannot see either of those markings on the box.”

In addition to noting some of the same violations above, Bill Marino, a maintenance electrician for the U.S. Postal Service in Wallingford, Conn., submitted this summary. 225.22 states “Raceways shall be arranged to drain and shall be raintight. Locknuts on rigid is not a raintight install (the box should have a spot for a raintight hub to be attached), even if the box is rated for installation outdoors. 314.15 says there shall be a ¼-inch of air space between the box and wall in wet locations. 300.11 states raceways shall be securely fastened. There is also a lack of a mechanical ground (metal bond) and protection to conductors with all that rust.”

Brent Eggers, Eggers Electric, Inc., Loveland, Colo., was our third winner this month.

‘TELL THEM WHAT THEY'VE WON…’

Correctly identify the Code violation(s) in this month's photo — in 200 words or less — and you could win something to put in your toolbox. E-mail your response to Joe Tedesco at joetedesco@comcast.net, and he'll select three winners (excluding manufacturers and prior winners) at random from the correct submissions. Winners will receive a set of insulated hand tools from Ideal Industries, Inc., valued at more than $125.* The set includes 9.25-inch insulated side-cutting pliers, 10-inch insulated tongue-and-groove pliers, and a 0.25-inch × 6-inch insulated screwdriver.
* Please allow six to eight weeks for delivery of tools.

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