Can you identify the Code violation(s) in this photo?
Hint: What’s missing?
Find the Answer
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. Can you identify the Code violation(s) in this photo?
‘Tell Them What They’ve Won...’
Using the 2011 NEC, correctly identify the Code sections that show violation(s) in this month’s photo — in 200 words or less — and you could win something to put in your toolbox. E-mail your response to [email protected], and we’ll select three winners (excluding manufacturers and prior winners) at random from the correct submissions. Winners will receive a set of insulated hand tools from Ideal Industries, Inc., valued at more than $125.* The set includes 9.25-in. insulated side-cutting pliers, 10-in. insulated tongue-and-groove pliers, and a 0.25-in. 3 6-in. insulated screwdriver. (* Please allow six to eight weeks for delivery of tools.)
MARCH WINNERS
Our two winners this month include: Brian Trumble, project manager, New Energy Service, Inc., Titusville, Fla., and Fred Schlosser, owner, eWire Electric Co., Winston-Salem, NC. Here’s a short recap of the violations they noted at the base of this pole.
Metal poles can be used as raceway to enclose supply conductors, but the handhole must have a cover suitable for use in wet conditions. The missing cover violates 410.30(B)(1).
Live parts 50V or higher are not guarded, because they are outside the enclosure. The exposed conductors violate the requirements of 110.27(A)(2). Section 300.4 could also be cited, as the conductors are now unprotected and subject to physical damage.
The conduit leading up to the bell box shall comply with 300.5(D)(4), which states: “Where the enclosure or raceway is subject to physical damage, the conductors shall be installed in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, schedule 80 PVC conduit, or equivalent.” If the conduit is schedule 40 PVC, this would be a violation. Assuming the PVC is schedule 40, it is not guarded against physical damage. This is a violation of 352.12(C).
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.