Ecmweb 4712 Cw2web
Ecmweb 4712 Cw2web
Ecmweb 4712 Cw2web
Ecmweb 4712 Cw2web
Ecmweb 4712 Cw2web

Whats Wrong Here?

Aug. 7, 2008
Hint: Is it live, or is it Memorex?

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

How many times have you run across this situation? The question that always comes to mind is whether or not the circuit is still energized.

If it is, then we can cite 110.3 Examination, Identification, Installation, and Use of Equipment. More specifically, 110.3(A)(8) says that when judging equipment, you must evaluate the factors that contribute to the practical safeguarding of persons using or likely to come in contact with the equipment.

If the circuit is dead, because it’s been abandoned in place, this raises a separate question. Although the NEC doesn’t specifically address abandoned wiring, the electrical fire safety section 3-2.4 in NFPA 1, Fire Prevention Code does. It calls for the tagging of permanent wiring abandoned in place at its termination and junction points or removal from all accessible areas and insulated from contact with other live electrical wiring or devices. If the NEC adopted this requirement, just think of the extra cash you could pocket when you sold the material to the scrap yard.

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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.

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