Illustrated Catastrophes: GFCI Goof Up

July 18, 2016

More Code catastrophes uncovered and corrected in these faulty installations

All references are based on the 2014 edition of the NEC.

GFCI Goof Up

Perhaps the installer did not completely read all of the blueprints for this job, but somehow this GFCI receptacle was placed in a spot where it ended up directly behind this stairway railing. While this is certainly inconvenient, it also creates a few Code violations.

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Section 210.8 requires this GFCI receptacle to be installed in a readily accessible location. There is virtually no way to work on this receptacle now unless the railing gets removed. Part of the box cover has even been removed in order to allow the railing to be installed. This missing “bubble cover” violates Sec. 406.9(B), which requires this 20A receptacle to be installed in an enclosure that is weatherproof with or without an attachment plug cap inserted. This is certainly not very weatherproof with its cover missing. Of course if you tried, it would be almost impossible to insert an attachment plug into this receptacle due to the placement of this railing.

Lastly, Sec. 314.29 requires boxes to be installed so that the wiring in them can be accessed without removing any part of the building or structure. Obviously this rule was ignored too.

A Shocking Stove Scenario

A big “thank you” goes to Mike Bridges, staff electrician for EMC Facilities, RTP, N.C., for sharing this photo and story with us. According to Bridges, several people received shocks from this dangerous installation.

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“What we found when we pulled out the new stove is that the stove had a 4-wire cord cap plug,” said Bridges. “We also noticed a piece of paneling located above the receptacle on the wall behind the stove and removed it to find a junction box had been installed. At this point, someone bonded both the neutral and the grounding conductor together in the junction box to accommodate the new stove wiring. We also saw that both the 20A microwave outlet (installed in the upper cabinet) and the 20A counter quad outlet had been tapped at this junction point. Upon further inspection, we found the 20A microwave outlet had a cut in the insulation on the current-carrying conductor (black wire). This duplex single-gang box was not grounded properly, and the black conductor was touching the metal box.”

Now this is a crazy installation for sure. Among many other violations here, using the neutral for equipment grounding violates the requirements set forth in

Sec. 250.142(B). The lack of grounding for the metal box also violates Sec. 250.134(A).

About the Author

Russ LeBlanc | Owner

Russ started in the electrical trade as an apprentice in 1985. He worked his way up to become a Journeyman Electrician and then eventually became a Master Electrician and Licensed Construction Supervisor. In 1999 Russ become an Electrical Instructor for The Peterson School of Engineering in Massachusetts where he developed his passion for teaching, and quickly became Department Head of Electrical Instruction. Russ has taught thousands of apprentices, electricians, engineers, inspectors, and other electrical professionals during his career as an instructor. He continues to provide electrical professionals with Electrical Code seminars, Arc-Flash Awareness training seminars and educational material through his LeBlanc Consulting Services in North Reading, MA whose specialty is educating electricians. He has been an active member of the NFPA Electrical Section and has authored hundreds of National Electrical Code proposals and comments which have become Code rules to improve the safety for the electrical industry. Russ is also an IAEI certified Electrical Inspector.

Please visit www.russleblanc.net for more information.