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 2017 NEC.
Hint: Expand your mind.
April Winners
Our winners this month are Scott McAllister, owner of McAllister Engineering Services in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, and Gary Winn of Winn Electric LLC in West Chesterfield, N.H. They both knew that Sec. 240.24(E) prohibits these circuit breakers from being located in this dwelling unit bathroom. They also knew that having to stand in or on this bathtub to reach these overcurrent devices is a violation of the clear working space requirements of Sec. 110.26(A)(3). The space in front of this panelboard needs to be clear all the way to the floor.
I would like to send a huge “thank you” to Dave Everson, a commercial electrical inspector for the City of Superior, Wis., for sharing this photo. He is one of the nearly 37,0000 members of the “Electrical Code Discussion” group on Facebook whose members often share material with me for our EC&M readers to enjoy. In Dave’s own words, “We were looking at a home a coworker was looking to buy. Being an electrical inspector, I had to find the main panel. Even I was a little shocked when I saw this one.”
‘Tell Them What They’ve Won...’
Using the 2017 NEC, correctly identify the Code violation(s) in this month’s photo — in 200 words or less — and you could win an Arlington Industries FLBT4400SS countertop box kit, 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.
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.