• What's Wrong Here?

    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. Joe Tedesco, who has a knack for finding shoddy electrical work, did the dirty work and found this mess. Now it's your turn to identify
    Jan. 1, 2007
    2 min read

    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. Joe Tedesco, who has a knack for finding shoddy electrical work, did the dirty work and found this mess. Now it's your turn to identify the violation.

    Find the Answer

    Answer:

    Mitchell Brochu, a student at a local trade school in Philadelphia — who's been working in the field for about eight months — noted the following Code violations with the January photo: Sections 230.9(A), 230.27, 230.50(A), 230.54(A), and 230.54(F). “I hope I got it right,” says Brochu. “I could use those insulated hand tools!”

    Brian N. Ferreira, an assistant estimator with Consolidated Electrical Services in Norwood, Mass., had this to say. “As for the obvious violation with the orange boot used to protect the service drop connections, I looked to Art. 230 (Services) and found the following:

    “230.9 Clearances on Buildings. Service conductors and final spans shall comply with 230.9(A), (B), and (C).

    “(A) Clearances. Service conductors installed as open conductors or multiconductor cable without an overall outer jacket shall have a clearance of not less than 3 ft from windows that are designed to be opened, doors, porches, balconies, ladders, stairs, fire escapes, or similar locations.

    “(B) Vertical Clearance. The vertical clearance of final spans above or within 3 ft measured horizontally of, platforms, projections, or surfaces from which they might be reached shall be maintained in accordance with 230.24(B).

    “I also like how they extended the service drop conductors to accommodate the lack of slack to make the connections to the service conductors. At least they didn't need a ladder to make the final connections!”

    Charles Smith, an electrical development engineer in Circleville, Ohio, also cited a violation of Sec. 230.9 in this installation.

    > Try Another Quiz

    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.

    Sign up for EC&M Newsletters
    Get the latest news and updates.

    Voice Your Opinion!

    To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EC&M, create an account today!