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, 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
"Here is a photo at the front door of a Mexican restaurant in Houston," says Paul Diverter, a reader of EC&M. "The place is relatively new, maybe open now for six or seven years. The door is metal. It is relatively dry in this photo, but everything gets covered with water when it rains. I wonder how many more people are going to step on the metal tread plate before the insulation finally goes."
First, this flexible metal conduit (FMC) has no fittings to ensure its electrical continuity as an equipment grounding conductor. In addition, FMC is not permitted to be installed in wet locations or where subject to physical damage (348.12).
The insulation on these conductors could easily become exposed and lead to an electrical shock.
> 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.