Ecmweb 4816 508wwh23web
Ecmweb 4816 508wwh23web
Ecmweb 4816 508wwh23web
Ecmweb 4816 508wwh23web
Ecmweb 4816 508wwh23web

What's Wrong Here?

Aug. 23, 2005
Hint: Cords and cables shall not be used as a substitute

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

Answer:

Edwin R. Rosario, P.E., Caribbean Technical Services, Inc., took these pictures in a South Florida commercial building during one of the company’s recent inspection trips. His team went to the building to inspect the CATV and telephone system. However, they found a bunch of Code violations and non-compliance with original drawings and contract documents. What really amazed him was this work had been accepted by local building officials. In fact, it passed final inspection as shown!

As noted in 400.8 of the 2005 NEC, unless specifically permitted in 400.7, flexible cords and cables shall not be used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure or where subject to physical damage.

As noted in the second photo, there are also a lot of blank open positions in this panelboard. Section 408.7 requires the unused openings for circuit breakers and switches to be closed with an identified closure, or other approved means that provides protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the enclosure.

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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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