National Electrical Code

What's Wrong Here?

Oct. 8, 2004

Hint: The conduit and other raceway at the Park Street MBTA station in Boston is separated where passing through the sleeve to the station below.

Joe Tedesco

This presents a serious shock hazard, which may lead to a serious accident. The equipment-grounding conductor isn't continuous, and live wires are exposed at ankle level.

Per 300.10 of the 2002 NEC, “Metal raceways, cable armor, and other metal enclosures for conductors shall be metallically joined together into a continuous electric conductor and shall be connected to all boxes, fittings, and cabinets so as to provide effective electrical continuity."

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.