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. Can you identify the specific Code violation(s) in this photo? Note: Submitted comments must include specific references from the 2020 NEC.
Hint: A stockpile of violations
Tell Them What They've Won…
Using the 2020 NEC, correctly identify the Code violation(s) in this month's photo — in 200 words or less — and you could win an Arlington Industries 18" Slider Bar and plastic box for mounting between studs with non-standard spacing. E-mail your response, including your name and mailing address, to [email protected], and Russ will select three winners (excluding manufacturers and prior winners) at random from the correct submissions. Note that submissions without an address will not be eligible to win.
February Winners
Our winners this month were George Bottinor of Park Ridge, N.J.; Eric Wissenbach of Dade City, Fla.; and Junior Latocha of Anchorage, Alaska. They all knew these drip loops and overhead service conductor were mounted too low. Section 230.9(B) requires vertical clearances for final spans of service conductors above platforms or surfaces permitting personal contact to be maintained in accordance with Sec. 230.24(B). Section 230.24(B)(1) requires a minimum clearance of 10 ft above this porch to be provided for overhead service conductors and the lowest point of the drip loops. These drip loops are located only slightly above the height of the door. A typical door height would be 80 in. to 82 in. That equates to less than 7 ft, which means these wires are probably only 8.5 ft above this porch. Having service conductors too low could result in a person making accidental contact with them, greatly increasing the risk of shock.
I would also like to congratulate John Shipley of Forest Hill, Md. for being another March contest winner whom I inadvertently forgot to mention last month.
