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: I demand a recount.
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.
July Winners
Our winners this month were: John Barnhart, retired master electrician, IBEW L.U. 58 of Warren, Mich.; Cameron Milloy, academic coordinator/journeyman electrician, A.J. Kirkwood & Associates, Inc. of Fullerton, Calif.; and David Heath, Waccamaw Electric Company, Inc., Whiteville, N.C. They were all able to correctly cite Code violations with this installation.
For wet locations, Sec. 406.9(B)(1) requires these receptacles to be installed in an enclosure that is weatherproof whether or not an attachment plug is inserted. The type of cover installed here is only weatherproof when closed. This same Section of the NEC requires these receptacles to be listed and identified as weather-resistant (WR) type receptacles. Outlet box hoods for this type of installation must be “extra duty” rated. The box is not properly supported either. Section 314.23(F) requires enclosures containing devices such as receptacles or supporting a lampholder/other equipment to be supported by two or more conduits threaded into the enclosure. There are two exceptions to this general rule, but neither is applicable here. Section 352.12(B) prohibits using rigid PVC conduits for support of luminaires or equipment other than nonmetallic conduit bodies.
