Ecmweb 4698 3 19 09wwhweb
Ecmweb 4698 3 19 09wwhweb
Ecmweb 4698 3 19 09wwhweb
Ecmweb 4698 3 19 09wwhweb
Ecmweb 4698 3 19 09wwhweb

Whats Wrong Here?

March 19, 2009
Hint: A shining example of poor construction

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. Joe Tedesco, who has a knack for finding shoddy electrical work, did the dirty work and found this mess. Now it's your turn to identify the violation.

Find the Answer

This walkway lighting system must have been installed by someone who was not familiar with the accepted methods used in the electrical industry. Open nonmetallic conduit of this type with energized and exposed supply conductors shows no knowledge of electrical safety or Code requirements.

Underground sections of conduit buried to proper depths (according to 300.5) and extended into the bottom of the pole (where the splices will be accessible) would have been the proper way to supply this lighting unit. See 410.30(B) for a list of the six requirements that must be met when installing metal poles to support luminaires (i.e., lighting fixtures) and serve as a raceway to enclose supply conductors.

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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.

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