Ecmweb 4789 Wrongweb
Ecmweb 4789 Wrongweb
Ecmweb 4789 Wrongweb
Ecmweb 4789 Wrongweb
Ecmweb 4789 Wrongweb

What's Wrong Here?

July 11, 2006
Hint: Something is missing in this installation.

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.

Find the Answer

Someone forgot to maintain the fire resistance rating at this major hotel where these fire alarm cables were recently installed. All trades who install systems in buildings covered by the NEC must comply with the following rules:

  • 300.21 Spread of Fire or Products of Combustion — “Electrical installations in hollow spaces, vertical shafts, and ventilation or air-handling ducts shall be made so that the possible spread of fire or products of combustion will not be substantially increased. Openings around electrical penetrations through fire-resistant-rated walls, partitions, floors, or ceilings shall be firestopped using approved methods to maintain the fire resistance rating.”
  • 760.3 Other Articles — “Circuits and equipment shall comply with 760.3(A) through 760.3(F). Only those sections of Art. 300 referenced in this article shall apply to fire alarm systems.” “(A) Spread of Fire or Products of Combustion Section 300.21. The accessible portion of abandoned fire alarm cables shall be removed.”
  • 800.3(C) Spread of Fire or Products of Combustion — “Section 300.21 shall apply. The accessible portion of abandoned communications cables shall not be permitted to remain.”
  • 820.3(A) Spread of Fire or Products of Combustion — “Section 300.21 shall apply. The accessible portion of abandoned coaxial cables shall be removed.”
  • 830.3(A) Spread of Fire or Products of Combustion — “Section 300.21 shall apply. The accessible portion of abandoned network-powered broadband communications cables shall be removed.”

For additional references in this area, see the 2005 NEC Index under "Fire Spread."

About the Author

Joe Tedesco

Tedesco served the industry in many roles during his career. He was a director, senior electrical code instructor for National Technology Transfer, Inc. and American Trainco, Inc.. He was also a codes, standards and seminar specialist for the International Association of Electrical Inspectors and an electrical field service specialist for the National Fire Protection Association in Quincy, Mass. He ran his own business as an NEC consultant and is a Massachusetts licensed master electrician and journeyman electrician and certified electrical inspector (one and two family 2A; General 2B, and Plan Review, 2C). Tedesco also wrote articles for CEE News and EC&M (Code Violations Illustrated and What's Wrong Here?) for more than 15 years and helped launched the Moving Violations video series.

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