New one on me!

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Jim W in Tampa said:
Yes you if you go onto jobs not knowing differance between a duplex and a single.Your costing us money for your lack of schooling.Nothing high at time just 4 levels,come visit me.Think what your costing others for your mistake.It is in the thousands.
Jim,
You & I aren't communicating well. I agree with you 100%. OSHA inspectors (and code inspectors as well) don't have the option of picking where they go. They do have the option of reading up on the codes and other resource materials before they go out to a job site and cause a bunch of unnecessary grief. And when they run into someone who knows more about what they're looking at than they do, they have the right to remain silent and learn something.

Resistance,
"Grounds down" refers to proper orientation of an installed recept, IMHO. Just because my wife grew up in a house wired the other way, is not a valid reason for me to crawl around on the floor reversing them all.
 
G0049 said:
Jim,
You & I aren't communicating well. I agree with you 100%. OSHA inspectors (and code inspectors as well) don't have the option of picking where they go. They do have the option of reading up on the codes and other resource materials before they go out to a job site and cause a bunch of unnecessary grief. And when they run into someone who knows more about what they're looking at than they do, they have the right to remain silent and learn something.

Resistance,
"Grounds down" refers to proper orientation of an installed recept, IMHO. Just because my wife grew up in a house wired the other way, is not a valid reason for me to crawl around on the floor reversing them all.

I only ask that when you start writing up tags that you know your right .Is that wrong ?
 
G0049 said:
First, the 1926 series of rules applies only to electrical installions used to power construction activities. If you are installing it, but not using it, 1926 doesn't apply.

That's right. And if it is an electrical installation for the workplace, not including construction, section 1910 applies, and contains the same language, AND adds a twist by adding cord- and plug- connected load info:

1910.304(b)(4)(ii)
Receptacle outlets shall comply with the following provisions:

1910.304(b)(4)(ii)(A)
A single receptacle installed on an individual branch circuit shall have an ampere rating of not less than that of the branch circuit;

1910.304(b)(4)(ii)(B)
Where connected to a branch circuit supplying two or more receptacles or outlets, a receptacle may not supply a total cord- and plug-connected load in excess of the maximum specified in Table S-4; and

1910.304(b)(4)(ii)(C)
Where connected to a branch circuit supplying two or more receptacles or outlets, receptacle ratings shall conform to the values listed in Table S-5; or, where larger than 50 amperes, the receptacle rating may not be less than the branch-circuit rating. However, receptacles of cord- and plug-connected arc welders may have ampere ratings not less than the minimum branch-circuit conductor ampacity.

Table S-4. -- Maximum Cord- and Plug-Connected Load to Receptacle

Circuit rating (amps) | Receptacle rating (amps) | Maximum load (amps)
15 or 20 ----------- | 15 -------------------- | 12
20 ----------------- | 20 --------------------| 16
30 ----------------- | 30 --------------------| 24


Table S-5. -- Receptacle Ratings for Various Size Circuits

Circuit rating (amperes) | Receptacle rating (amperes)
15 --------------------| Not over 15
20 --------------------| 15 or 20
30 --------------------| 30
40 --------------------| 40 or 50
50 --------------------| 50


Even with this additional info, I believe there is no OSHA violation...
 
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K8MHZ said:
It seems that the inspector is saying that there is only one receptacle. Even though it is a duplex, it is still *one* receptacle. (Otherwise it would be 'receptacles')
Like a pair of pants? :grin:

What does not make sense to me is why you need to have a 20 amp receptacle if there is only one, but as many 15 amp receptacles as you want if there are more than one.
Probably because the 20a configuration is a sign that the circuit itself is rated at 20a, which matters for equipment that requires a 20a circuit.

Also, look real close at the receptacle. Some receptacles that will not accept a 20 plug are rated at 20 amps anyway. Some are not. I always try to get receptacles that are rated at 20 amps but configured for 15.
I've never seen one that wasn't rated for 20a feed-through.

To make things even more confusing, a 20 amp configured receptacle will still accept a 15 amp plug.
Some will, some won't. I've seen 20a receptacles both with a T-slot and with only the horizontal slot.

When was the last time you saw a 20 amp plug on a device made for residential use?
I'll answer that by saying I've seen 20a plugs on stuff used in a residence.

This is one of the strangest rules in OSHA / NEC I know of.
You're so young! :grin:
 
For the life of me, I can't understand why the OSHA guy even cares about something as insignificant as the rating of a receptacle.

Did he check to make sure that your cords okay. Is the lid on the PVC glue? Any cracks in the fiberglass on the ladders? For crying out loud, did he check the MSDS sheets?
 
I bet on the return trip he'll find lot's of stuff to fine you.
wonreful thing out here in CA, You can call a OSHA inspector/realation person out to your sitefor free from what I was told. They can help with compliance issues and help you be aware of potential issues. The good thing is they cannot foward you defects off to the inspection dept. This does not preclude them from comming around in the future.
 
G0049 said:
Jim,
You & I aren't communicating well. I agree with you 100%. OSHA inspectors (and code inspectors as well) don't have the option of picking where they go. They do have the option of reading up on the codes and other resource materials before they go out to a job site and cause a bunch of unnecessary grief. And when they run into someone who knows more about what they're looking at than they do, they have the right to remain silent and learn something.

Resistance,
"Grounds down" refers to proper orientation of an installed recept, IMHO. Just because my wife grew up in a house wired the other way, is not a valid reason for me to crawl around on the floor reversing them all.


"Grounds down" refers to proper orientation of an installed recept, IMHO

What makes this proper?
 
tshea said:
nakulakdid you ask him for the osha code section ?He was extremely unreasonable. He did not have any facts other than I am an OSHA inspector...
480sparkyInstead of 'reasoning' with him, did you show them 210.21(B)(3)? Or Table 210.24?
Didn't have code book handy. Wouldn't have mattered...OSHA overrules NEC...

I'll let you know what supervisor says...

Both OSHA and NEC allows 15A receptacles to be on either 15A or 20A circuits.

OSHA clearly states that NEC IS the technical ruling authority.

The only thing OSHA does is repeat those sections of the NEC that are concerning employee safety.
 
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