Ecmweb 4782 1000002web
Ecmweb 4782 1000002web
Ecmweb 4782 1000002web
Ecmweb 4782 1000002web
Ecmweb 4782 1000002web

What's Wrong Here?

Sept. 25, 2006
Hint: Climbing the ladder to success? Not in this installation!

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

Here’s a list of the violations noted with this installation.

110.3(B) – "Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling."

392.5(B) – "Cable trays shall not have sharp edges, burrs, or projections that could damage the insulation or jackets of the wiring."

392.5(D) – "Cable trays shall have side rails or equivalent structural members."

392.6(C) – “Supports shall be provided to prevent stress on cables where they enter raceways or other enclosures from cable tray systems. Cable trays shall be supported at intervals in accordance with the installation instructions."

392.6(G) – “Cable trays shall be permitted to extend transversely through partitions and walls or vertically through platforms and floors in wet or dry locations where the installations, complete with installed cables, are made in accordance with the requirements of 300.21.” The requirements of 300.21 state, “Openings around electrical penetrations through fire-resistant rated walls, partitions, floors, or ceilings shall be firestopped using approved methods to maintain the fire resistance rating."

392.7(B)(1) – “The cable tray sections and fittings shall be identified for grounding purposes.”

392.7(B)(4) – “Cable tray sections, fittings, and connected raceways shall be bonded in accordance with 250.96, using bolted mechanical connections or bonding jumpers sized and installed in accordance with 250.102.”

800.18 – “Equipment electrically connected to a telecommunications network shall be listed in accordance with 800.170. Installation of equipment shall also comply with 110.3 (B).”

392.6(G) was most likely not visible in the pictures that I sent you although it was also present at the location.

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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