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. It's your turn to identify the violation.
Hint: This wood be a Code violation…
November Winners
Congratulations to our two winners this month: Tracy W. Saunders, a master electrician/project manager with HiMEC Mechanical of Rochester, Minn., and Ryan F. Quade, a process electrical engineer with 3M Engineering in St. Paul, Minn. They were both able to identify at least one of the many problems in this installation.
One of the violations I see in this installation is a lack of workspace. Section 110.26(A)(3) requires workspace in front of this equipment to be clear from the grade to a height of at least 6½ ft — or the height of the equipment if higher. While most of the drain pipe does not violate this rule, the drain to the left side of the electrical equipment is precariously close to encroaching upon the required working space. Section 110.26(E)(2)(b) requires the space equal to the depth and width of the equipment extending from grade to 6 ft above the equipment to be dedicated to the electrical installation. No foreign piping systems are permitted in this zone.
There’s another violation to note. As required by Sec. 230.27, the point of attachment for the service shall be designed and identified for the attachment of service conductors, but not for the attachment of drain pipes. We could also say attaching the drain pipe here violates Sec. 110.3(B) for the same reason.
In addition, to the right of the service equipment, you can see several unsupported PVC pipes. This arrangement violates the requirements outlined in Sec. 352.30(B).