National Electrical Code

What's Wrong Here?

Aug. 24, 2004

Hint: No, the cover from this panelboard was not removed prior to taking this picture.

The NACHI inspector who sent me this photo noted that there was no cover to be found for this panelboard. The integrity of electrical equipment and connections must be maintained. Internal parts of electrical equipment, including busbars, wiring terminals, insulators, and other surfaces, can't remain in operation when they're damaged or contaminated by foreign materials like paint, plaster, cleaners, abrasives, or corrosive residues. Never permit damaged parts, such as those that are broken, bent, cut, or deteriorated by corrosion, chemical action, or overheating, that may adversely affect safe operation or mechanical strength of the equipment to remain in operation. See the requirements of 110.12(C).

About the Author

Joe Tedesco

Tedesco served the industry in many roles during his career. He was a director, senior electrical code instructor for National Technology Transfer, Inc. and American Trainco, Inc.. He was also a codes, standards and seminar specialist for the International Association of Electrical Inspectors and an electrical field service specialist for the National Fire Protection Association in Quincy, Mass. He ran his own business as an NEC consultant and is a Massachusetts licensed master electrician and journeyman electrician and certified electrical inspector (one and two family 2A; General 2B, and Plan Review, 2C). Tedesco also wrote articles for CEE News and EC&M (Code Violations Illustrated and What's Wrong Here?) for more than 15 years and helped launched the Moving Violations video series.