Ecmweb 4750 Codewatch2web
Ecmweb 4750 Codewatch2web
Ecmweb 4750 Codewatch2web
Ecmweb 4750 Codewatch2web
Ecmweb 4750 Codewatch2web

What's Wrong Here?

Aug. 27, 2007
Hint: A case of the bends.

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

The use of gray duct tape may have been a better choice here, but when the metallic part of any conduit such as LFMC is over bent this is what usually happens. Don't touch the outdoor street sign this serves when it is on because the lack of continuity, improperly seated connector, and most likely broken equipment grounding conductor may lead to an electric shock.

We can cite some of the following requirements in Art. 350 (Liquidtight Flexible Metal Conduit: Type LFMC) when analyzing this installation for Code conformance.

  • 350.24 Bends — How Made: “Bends in conduit shall be so made that the conduit will not be damaged and the internal diameter of the conduit will not be effectively reduced. Bends shall be permitted to be made manually without auxiliary equipment. The radius of the curve to the centerline of any bend shall not be less than required in Table 2, Chapter 9 using the column ‘Other Bends.’''
  • 350.26 Bends — Number in One Run:”There shall not be more than the equivalent of four quarter bends (360 degrees total) between pull points, for example, conduit bodies and boxes.”
  • 350.60 Grounding and Bonding:”Where used to connect equipment where flexibility is required, an equipment grounding conductor shall be installed. Where flexibility is not required, LFMC shall be permitted to be used as an equipment grounding conductor when installed in accordance with 250.118(6). Where required or installed, equipment grounding conductors shall be installed in accordance with 250.134(B). Where required or installed, equipment bonding jumpers shall be installed in accordance with 250.102.”

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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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