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. It's your turn to identify the violation.
Hint: stretched out and shifted
"I found this at an outdoor structure used for bike storage and trash containment in Waterville Valley, N.H.," says Paul Blecharczyk, principal applications engineer, Invensys Process Systems, Foxboro, Mass. When the structure moved or shifted from its original position, the metal conduit broke free at the concrete slab and then pulled out of the bottom of the meter can. The power cables are now clearly exposed much like the cables entering the top of the meter can that are wrapped in electrical tape.
As noted in 300.5(J), "Where direct-buried conductors, raceways, or cables are subject to movement by settlement or frost, direct-buried conductors, raceways, or cables shall be arranged so as to prevent damage to the enclosed conductors or to equipment connected to the raceways."
An Informational Note in this same section states, "This section recognizes 'S' loops in underground direct burial to raceway transitions, expansion fittings in raceway risers to fixed equipment, and, generally, the provision of flexible connections to equipment subject to settlement or frost heaves."
We can also cite a few requirements from Art. 230 (Services).
As per 230.32, "Underground service conductors shall be protected against damage in accordance with 300.5. Service conductors entering a building or other structure shall be installed in accordance with 230.6 or protected by a raceway wiring method identified in 230.43."
As per 230.50(A), "Underground Service-Entrance Conductors. Underground service-entrance conductors shall be protected against physical damage in accordance with 300.5."