What's Wrong Here? Hint: Busted Box Supports
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 2026 NEC.
Hint: Busted box supports.
Tell Them What They've Won…
Using the 2026 NEC, correctly identify the Code violation(s) in this month's photo — in 200 words or less — and you could win a 40-oz. insulated tumbler valued at $39.99, courtesy of ABB. E-mail your response, including your name and mailing address, to [email protected], and Russ will select two winners (excluding manufacturers and prior winners) at random from the correct submissions. Note that submissions without an address will not be eligible to win.
May Winner
Our two winners this month were Shane Byman, an EC&M reader from Interlachen, Fla., and Brian Dibble, an energy engineer from Troy, N.Y. They both knew these NM cables were not supported and secured correctly.
Section 334.15(C) of the 2026 NEC permits NM cables not smaller than two 6 AWG or three 8 AWG conductors to be secured directly to the bottom of the joists where the cables are run at angles with the joists. However, smaller cables, such as the 12/2 and 14/2 cables in this photo, must be run through holes bored through the joists, or they could be installed on running boards.
They cannot be stapled directly to the bottom of the joists like this.
Another violation is using cable ties to support cables to other cables. This is a violation of Sec. 300.13(D) [Sec. 300.11(D) in the 2023 edition]. A closer look will also reveal that a broomstick has been laid on top of the cable bundles. This is not a storage area, and the cables should not be used to support stored items, such as brooms, hockey sticks, scrap wood, or any other materials.
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.