What’s Wrong Here? Hint: A Suspicious Supporting Means
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 specific Code violation(s) in this photo? Note: Submitted comments must include specific references from the 2020 NEC.
Hint: A suspicious supporting means
Tell Them What They've Won…
Using the 2020 NEC, correctly identify the Code violation(s) in this month's photo — in 200 words or less — and you could win an Arlington Industries 18" Slider Bar and plastic box for mounting between studs with non-standard spacing, which includes a stainless steel trap door cover and a 20A decorator-style, tamper-resistant receptacle. E-mail your response, including your name and mailing address, to [email protected], and Russ will select three winners (excluding manufacturers and prior winners) at random from the correct submissions. Note that submissions without an address will not be eligible to win.
January Winners
Our two winners this month were Al Caton, a reader from Kodak, Tenn., and John E. Skog, P.E., with Maintenance and Test Engineering LLC of Olympia, Wash. They both knew that receptacles installed in wet locations are required to have weatherproof enclosures.
For 15A and 20A, 125V and 250V receptacles, Sec. 406.9(B)(1) requires an enclosure that is weatherproof with an attachment plug inserted or removed. Outlet box hoods used for this purpose must be identified as “extra-duty.” The large attachment plug installed here prevents the cover from being secured in a closed position. Extra deep covers and boxes are available to accommodate large attachment plugs like the one in the photo. Covers that are weatherproof only with the attachment plug removed are not permitted for these types of receptacles in wet locations. For areas subjected to routine high-pressure spray washing, the exception to Sec. 406.9(B)(1) permits the use of covers that are weatherproof when the attachment plug is removed. Weather-resistant receptacles must also be used in damp or wet locations.
About the Author
Russ LeBlanc
Owner
Russ started in the electrical trade as an apprentice in 1985. He worked his way up to become a Journeyman Electrician and then eventually became a Master Electrician and Licensed Construction Supervisor. In 1999 Russ become an Electrical Instructor for The Peterson School of Engineering in Massachusetts where he developed his passion for teaching, and quickly became Department Head of Electrical Instruction. Russ has taught thousands of apprentices, electricians, engineers, inspectors, and other electrical professionals during his career as an instructor. He continues to provide electrical professionals with Electrical Code seminars, Arc-Flash Awareness training seminars and educational material through his LeBlanc Consulting Services in North Reading, MA whose specialty is educating electricians. He has been an active member of the NFPA Electrical Section and has authored hundreds of National Electrical Code proposals and comments which have become Code rules to improve the safety for the electrical industry. Russ is also an IAEI certified Electrical Inspector.
Please visit www.russleblanc.net for more information.