What's Wrong Here? Hint: Botched Breaker Blanks
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: Botched breaker blanks
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.
August Winner
Our lone winner this month was Matt Cowher, superintendent for TurnKey Electric, Inc., of Williamsport, Pa. He knew the disconnecting means was installed in a terrible location.
Wow! I can’t think of a much worse place to install a disconnecting means. It’s too close to the air conditioning unit and does not have clear working space as required by Secs. 440.14 and 110.26(A). There needs to be at least 3 ft of clear working space depth for this disconnecting means. In addition to that, the vent piping for the gas pressure regulator passes directly in front of the cover for the disconnecting means, preventing the cover from fully opening. This increases the danger for workers attempting to service this electrical equipment. While the NEC may not address clearances required from gas meters and pressure regulators, NFPA 54, The National Fuel Gas Code, does have requirements for keeping potential sources of ignition at least 3 ft away from pressure regulator vents. I may not be an expert on fuel gas codes, but this sure looks like a potential violation to me.
About the Author
Russ LeBlancRuss 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.