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What's Wrong Here?

Apr 1, 2009 12:00 PM

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. Can you identify the Code violation(s) in this photo?

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. Can you identify the Code violation(s) in this photo?

Hint: Teetering on the brink

February Winners

Our three winners this month were: Don Ganiere, a project manager for Halm Electrical Contracting, Inc., Ottawa, Ill.; Troy Houston, a facility engineer with Babcock & Wilcox in Barberton, Ohio; and Mike Fox, an electrical foreman with the Indianapolis Public School System.

They identified the following violations associated with this free-hanging box installation.

• The box is not supported as required by 314.23(A) or (B). Although boxes not exceeding 1,650 cubic cm (100 cu in.) can be raceway supported [as per 314.23(E)], the raceway must have threaded entries or hubs identified for the purpose. The box must also be supported by two or more conduits threaded wrenchtight into the enclosure or hubs, and each conduit shall be secured within 900 mm (3 ft) of the box, or within 450 mm (18 in.) of the box if all conduit entries are on the same side. This box does not have threaded entries or hubs, nor do the conduits enter on just one side of the box.

• The conduits entering the box are not securely fastened in place within 3 ft of the box, as required by 344.40(A) for rigid metal conduit (RMC) or 358.30(A) for electrical metallic tubing (EMT).

• As per 314.40, metal boxes shall be corrosion-resistant (i.e., well-galvanized, enameled, or properly coated inside and out), made of a proper thickness and size, and properly grounded.

• Other sections of the Code worth reviewing include: 314.28 and 314.72(E).

‘TELL THEM WHAT THEY'VE WON…’

Using the 2008 NEC, 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 electrical.group@penton.com, and we'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-in. insulated side-cutting pliers, 10-in. insulated tongue-and-groove pliers, and a 0.25-in. × 6-in. insulated screwdriver. (* Please allow six to eight weeks for delivery of tools.)

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