Baseboard Receptacle Installation

[InspectorDan]

Dear Sparkies,

Does the exposure of the interior of the J box and it's energized components to the MDF edges of the baseboard constitute a code violation and/or fire hazard?

Thanks,

Lowly Home Inspector

 

[flatlander]

Dear Sparkies,

Does the exposure of the interior of the J box and it's energized components to the MDF edges of the baseboard constitute a code violation and/or fire hazard?

Thanks,

Lowly Home Inspector

don't have my code book handy , however it is a violation.
Box must be flush with wood.

 

[hbiss]

Yup. 314.20

In walls and ceilings constructed of wood or other combustible
surface material, boxes, plaster rings, extension
rings, or listed extenders shall be flush with the finished surface
or project therefrom.

I would also be concerned about the sloppy spray job that probably got paint in the slots and on the contacts (or does it just look like they didn't mask the receptacle).

-Hal

 

[user 100]

Yup. 314.20

In walls and ceilings constructed of wood or other combustible
surface material, boxes, plaster rings, extension
rings, or listed extenders shall be flush with the finished surface
or project therefrom.

-Hal

And another violation is 406.5- those screw heads look like dw screws.

At least they did dress it up by wrapping the terminals (sort of...) in wpt.

 

[JFletcher]

Another sparkie who should have used adjustable boxes in baseboards. As mentioned, the box must be flush withe the wood (combustible surface).

This is easily fixed with a product like this:

http://www.techtoolsupply.com/Produ...989F4D667D5E&gclid=CMjHmI6n3s4CFUprfgod6K0CsQ

eta: as well as stackers and the proper length 6/32 screws

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

Yes it is a code violation.
Install an extension sleeve with longer 6/32 machine screws if needed to resolve the problem.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Yes it is a code violation.
Install an extension sleeve with longer 6/32 machine screws if needed to resolve the problem.

Might need 8/32 screws now that those sheetrock screws have been installed--Maybe not but easily done either way

 

[InspectorDan]

Muchas Gracias!

Muchas Gracias!

Thanks everybody! I'm a bit ashamed I didn't have that information at my fingertips....

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Thanks everybody! I'm a bit ashamed I didn't have that information at my fingertips....

Keep tabs on the article and section and you'll know it next time. :thumbsup:

Also it may be helpful to have a list of the common violations so you can put the sections on the red tag more easily

 

[growler]

Thanks,Lowly Home Inspector

Also it may be helpful to have a list of the common violations so you can put the sections on the red tag more easily

Home inspectors are not supposed to quote code. If they did this would give the customer the impression that this is a code inspection and it is not. All he needs to do is write up that electrical junction boxes are not flush with baseboard and suggest that a licensed electrician repair the problem ( we need to get paid to ). Or he can put the cover back on and petend he never saw this as a home inspection is non-intrusive. No reason for the receptacle cover plate to have been removed in the first place.

 

[InspectorDan]

Oh Really?

Oh Really?

Home inspectors are not supposed to quote code. If they did this would give the customer the impression that this is a code inspection and it is not. All he needs to do is write up that electrical junction boxes are not flush with baseboard and suggest that a licensed electrician repair the problem ( we need to get paid to ). Or he can put the cover back on and petend he never saw this as a home inspection is non-intrusive. No reason for the receptacle cover plate to have been removed in the first place.

The only individuals who can tell me how to perform my home inspections are those connected with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Other than that, I just let the opinions fall on deaf ears. I've been doing this long enough and with enough success that I am able to ignore peanut gallery comments. Thanks anyway!

 

[JFletcher]

The only individuals who can tell me how to perform my home inspections are those connected with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Other than that, I just let the opinions fall on deaf ears. I've been doing this long enough and with enough success that I am able to ignore peanut gallery comments. Thanks anyway!

growler is hardly the peanut gallery. and Chi-town is unique in a lot of things; if you were anyway else, he'd probably be right. HI's elsewhere do not quote code.

Now, if your job does in fact involve quoting NEC articles, you need to remember this one; it's one of the most common violations around, especially in remodeled homes where they just stuck another layer of drywall over the existing (that's what your pics look like).

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I had missed the fact that Dan was an home inspector. I thought he was an electrical inspector however I see no reason why he couldn't cite code violations and give that info as long as it is accurate

 

[InspectorDan]

I had missed the fact that Dan was an home inspector. I thought he was an electrical inspector however I see no reason why he couldn't cite code violations and give that info as long as it is accurate

Thanks Dennis.....I asked for a simple answer to a simple electrical question. I certainly appreciate any other advice folks may want to provide but I've been running my inspection biz for nearly 20 years and our company has done 20,000 inspections or more over that time. We know what we're doing. Just wanted to make that clear.....I'm here for electrical knowledge, as far as running a home inspection business well; I got that.

 

[K8MHZ]

Thanks Dennis.....I asked for a simple answer to a simple electrical question. I certainly appreciate any other advice folks may want to provide but I've been running my inspection biz for nearly 20 years and our company has done 20,000 inspections or more over that time. We know what we're doing. Just wanted to make that clear.....I'm here for electrical knowledge, as far as running a home inspection business well; I got that.

20,000 inspections and this is the first time you have seen this?

Wow. You would freak out in Michigan.

Welcome to the forum. Some of the guys here can be surly at times, but they are the most knowledgeable group there is. I have learned a lot here.

 

[growler]

The only individuals who can tell me how to perform my home inspections are those connected with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Other than that, I just let the opinions fall on deaf ears. I've been doing this long enough and with enough success that I am able to ignore peanut gallery comments. Thanks anyway!

Thanks Dennis.....I asked for a simple answer to a simple electrical question. I certainly appreciate any other advice folks may want to provide but I've been running my inspection biz for nearly 20 years and our company has done 20,000 inspections or more over that time. We know what we're doing. Just wanted to make that clear.....I'm here for electrical knowledge, as far as running a home inspection business well; I got that.

Well InspectorDan I didn't mean to get you all upset. It is very common in the home inspection industry for home inspectors to deny doing code inspections because that would open a whole different can of worms.

When it comes to citeing code I really don't see how it could be done. For an electrical inspector it easier because they cite code based on the latest adopted code cycle. Which code cycle are you going to use to cite code violations? If you inspect a home built in 1974 and remodeled in 1994 and you are doing a present day inspection. If you start useing the 2011 or 2014 code cycle then even that receptacle is a code violation. It would need to be a TR type and once it's changed out then it would need arc fault protetion. Pretty soon you have a whole house that needs to be brough up to code.