All references are based on the 2020 edition of the NEC.

Reach for the Sky

Reaching for the sky is what you would be doing when trying to reach the service disconnecting means mounted at the roofline of this restaurant. There is no way to access this equipment without climbing over a railing or using a portable ladder. Article 100 describes readily accessible as capable of being reached quickly without climbing over obstacles or resorting to portable ladders. Section 230.70(A)(1) requires the service disconnecting means to be installed at a readily accessible location either outside the building or inside the building. There are no exceptions to this rule. The location of this service disconnecting means certainly does not meet the requirements for it to be readily accessible. Perhaps the stairway was configured differently at a previous time, and renovations rendered this disconnect inaccessible. I’m not sure of the history here, but I do know that this situation creates a Code violation today. One more tidbit that may be hard to spot: There are set-screw type couplings installed on the two raceways, leaving the bottom of each enclosure under the meter socket. Installing set-screw type fittings in this outdoor wet location is a violation of Sec. 314.15. Fittings installed in wet locations must be listed for wet locations.

Ode to the Leaning Tower of Pisa

I have had the pleasure of visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy and climbing the stairs all the way to the top. Seeing such a magnificent structure withstand the test of time, despite leaning nearly 4° to 5° for centuries was truly impressive. This electrical installation is doing a bad impersonation of that beautiful tower. Relying on PVC conduit to support such a huge enclosure was a big mistake by the installer. Section 352.12(B) prohibits PVC conduit from supporting luminaires or any other equipment, except for conduit bodies of the same size as the PVC conduit itself. The weight of this enclosure is causing the conduit to lean and bend. The conduit may eventually snap if corrective actions are not taken. Another problem I noticed was the flexible cord slipping out of the connector installed on the bottom of the enclosure. I believe the flexible cord is providing power or controls to some irrigation equipment, but I am not 100% sure. However, I am sure the terminations and exposed conductors of the cord are now in danger of being damaged. Section 400.14 requires flexible cords and flexible cables to be connected to fittings in a manner that tension is not transferred to joints or terminals.