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?
Hint: Hit and run
Find the Answer
‘Tell Them What They’ve Won...’
Using the 2008 NEC, correctly identify the Code 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.)
September Winners
Our three winners this month include: Matt Healy, estimator, Nickle Electrical Companies, Newark, Del.; Jeff Pinter, electrical contractor, Pinter Electric, Florence, N.J.; and Christopher Fay, electrician, South Shore Hospital, Pembroke, Mass. All three individuals made note of several violations in the “intimate wiring contact” photo.
The open knockout in the box needs to be closed up. As per 110.12(A), unused openings shall be closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the enclosure.
The NM and MC cables need to be supported within 12 in. of the box and secured by staples, cable ties, straps, hangers, or similar fittings (not tape) [330.30 and 334.30].
Cable wiring methods shall not be used as a means of support for other cables [300.11(C)].
The connector fitting shown is not listed or labeled for use with both NM and MC cable [110.3(B) and 300.15].
Electrical equipment and wiring must be installed in a manner that creates a low-impendence circuit and is bonded for an effective ground fault current path [250.4(A)(3) and (5)].
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.