All references are based on the 2014 edition of the NEC.
Hitchin’ a Ride
Believe it or not, buried deep in this bundle is a piece of ¾-in. electrical metallic tubing (EMT). Unfortunately, all of the communication cables, raceways, and optical fiber cables that are secured to it obscure it from view. Not only are these cables and raceways putting extra strain on the clips that were designed to secure and support only one EMT, but they can also trap the heat generated by the current flow on the conductors inside the pipe. This trapped heat may cause the conductors to operate too hot, which can lead to insulation breakdown and eventual failure.
According to Sec. 300.11(B), raceways can only be used to support other raceways or cables where the raceway is “identified as a means of support,” or where the raceway contains power conductors for electrical equipment and is supporting Class 2 control circuits connected to the same piece of equipment. Raceways may also support boxes in accordance with Sec. 314.23, or luminaires in accordance with 410.36(E).
In this installation, the cables and raceways bundled to the EMT are simply hitching a ride along the way because the installer(s) took the easy way out, and did not take the time to properly support the additional wiring.
Pandora’s Box
So many problems — so little space to write about them… I’ll begin with the missing cover.
As required by Sec. 314.25, for completed installations, each box must have a cover, faceplate, lampholder, or luminaire installed to cover the opening and protect the wires in the box. The next problem is the equipment ground wire wrapped around the 8/32 screw that is intended to secure the box cover. This violates Sec. 250.148(C), which requires a grounding screw to be used for no purpose other than connecting the equipment grounding conductor to the metal box. The next violation is the lack of cable connectors for the two NM cables entering the top corner of the box. Section 314.17 requires these cables to be protected from abrasion as they enter the box, and the openings should be closed in an approved manner. The next problem is the way in which the cables are installed on the floor of this attic space. Section 334.23 requires NM cables installed in an accessible attic to comply with the rules of Sec. 320.23. Where cables are installed within 7 ft of the attic floor, they “shall be protected by guard strips,” which are at least as high as the cable. Lastly, using green grounding-type wire connectors for splicing the white and black wires violates the requirements of Sec. 110.3(B).