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.
Answer:
According to Don Jansen, owner, Janko Electric, Salisbury, Mass., “although the copper pipe running through the receptacle outlet box provides a unique location to bond to the water system, it is not allowed and violates several rules.” First of all, the receptacle box is not identified for this use. Noting the lack of wire bending and termination space in the box [110.3(A)], Jansen also cited a violation of the box volume as per 314.16(A) and a violation with the limitations on NM boxes as per 314.3. He finished up by saying, “the wiring methods (110.8) and mechanical execution of work (110.12) have been ignored.”
Robert E Gilmore, an electrical inspector for the City of Bellevue in Bellevue, Wash., cited the following violations: “Boxes shall provide a complete enclosure for the contained conductors or cables [314.72(C)]. Listed and labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or label [110.3(B)]. The installation also violates 300.3(C)(1), Conductors of Different Systems, 600V, Nominal or Less.”
John Stark of Russelectric, Inc., Hingham, Mass., cited some of the same violations as noted above.
