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 2023 NEC.
Hint: I wood knot do this if I were you.
Tell Them What They've Won…
Using the 2023 NEC, correctly identify the Code violation(s) in this month's photo — in 200 words or less — and you could win a $25 Amazon gift card. E-mail your response, including your name and mailing address, to [email protected], and Russ will select one winner (excluding manufacturers and prior winners) at random from the correct submissions. Note that submissions without an address will not be eligible to win.
June Winners
Our winner this month was Christopher Mitchell with Grimes Electric of Del City, Okla.
Occupants in the top floor apartment can easily come in contact with the energized service conductors while standing on their deck. The conductors entering/exiting the weatherhead are only a few inches away from the railing and can easily be reached through the railing, over the railing, or possibly out of the window.
Section 230.9(A) requires service conductors to have a clearance of no less than 3 ft from windows designed to be open, doors, porches, balconies, ladders, fire escapes, or similar locations. For final spans within 3 ft horizontally of platforms, projections, or surfaces, such as decks or porches that permit personal contact, the conductors must be installed with the vertical clearances specified in Sec. 230.24(B). In this case, the lowest point of the conductors, including the drip loops, would need to be located at least 10 ft above the deck in accordance with Sec. 230.24(B)(1).
