Painted Over Equipment

[tobfm5045]

If receptacles, switches, etc., have been totally painted over, due they have to be replaced and if so what is the section in NEC.

Thanks,

Rich :

 

[jro]

Re: Painted Over Equipment

Painted over devices not only look bad but the receptacles will become a problem due to the paint buildup causes the prongs from cords to make a bad connection at the receptacle. As for code I have nothing.

 

[tonyi]

Re: Painted Over Equipment

Originally posted by tobfm5045:
If receptacles, switches, etc., have been totally painted over, due they have to be replaced and if so what is the section in NEC.

Thanks,

Rich :

I'd say yes.

110.12(C)

"Internal parts of electrical equipment...and other surfaces, shall not be damaged or contaminated by foreign materiels such as paint, ..."

 

[iwire]

Re: Painted Over Equipment

Rich Tony edited that section down substantially.

If we read the whole thing we can see that the article is talking about internal surfaces.

So IMO no, painted switches and receptacles are not required by the NEC to be replaced.

110.12(C) Integrity of Electrical Equipment and Connections.
Internal parts of electrical equipment, including busbars, wiring terminals, insulators, and other surfaces, shall not be damaged or contaminated by foreign materials such as paint, plaster, cleaners, abrasives, or corrosive residues. There shall be no damaged parts that may adversely affect safe operation or mechanical strength of the equipment such as parts that are broken; bent; cut; or deteriorated by corrosion, chemical action, or overheating.

 

[Guest]

Re: Painted Over Equipment

If they're SPRAY PAINTED there will be internal paint contamination.

If they're just rolled over with a paint roller it's not as likely they'll have any internal contamination-- unless they're utilized while the paint is wet and the paint is driven in.

 

[iwire]

Re: Painted Over Equipment

Originally posted by awwt:
If they're SPRAY PAINTED there will be internal paint contamination.

I would say possible contamination, in other words if you look inside and see paint on the contacts you may want to replace them.

I would say the spray painter is really laying down the paint if the inside of the outlet gets contaminated.

 

[tonyi]

Re: Painted Over Equipment

Originally posted by iwire:
if you look inside and see paint on the contacts you may want to replace them.

If they're totally painted over, you're not going to be able to look in to see anything because there's paint blocking the holes.

I don't give a hoot about paint on the face. The code is plainly refering to operational aspects, not cosmetic. When there's enough paint encrustation that you can't get a plug in anymore or even see the inside, IMO that's a problem.

Obviously some here don't feel effectively disfunctional recepticals are a problem though and would just leave it alone so some hapless user can maybe get a jolt poking and scraping paint away so they can plug something in.

 

[tonyi]

Re: Painted Over Equipment

Originally posted by awwt:
If they're just rolled over with a paint roller it's not as likely they'll have any internal contamination

After several paint jobs, nothing will be getting in, especially a plug

Completely blocked up recepticals are a common issue in rental units and older buildings.

 

[iwire]

Re: Painted Over Equipment

Originally posted by tonyi:
Obviously some here don't feel effectively disfunctional recepticals are a problem though and would just leave it alone so some hapless user can maybe get a jolt poking and scraping paint away so they can plug something in.

Obviously some here feel they should make the code fit their own opinions.

Tony as it happens on the jobs I work it is in specs that the subcontractors protect each others work.

So if the devices get painted the painter pays for replacement.

Specifications, not Code.

As you told me, if you have a problem with that take it up with the CMPs.

[ November 02, 2003, 09:11 AM: Message edited by: iwire ]

 

[tonyi]

Re: Painted Over Equipment

Originally posted by iwire:

Obviously some here feel they should make the code fit their own opinions.

If you were inspecting a place with all the recepticals painted over so bad that nothing could be plugged in, you'd have no problem with that?

 

[jro]

Re: Painted Over Equipment

Lets not make a mountain out of a mole hill painted over receptacles are a problem, Iwire how much clearer can it get.

110.12(C) Integrity of Electrical Equipment and Connections.
Internal parts of electrical equipment, including busbars, wiring terminals, insulators, and other surfaces, shall not be damaged or contaminated by foreign materials such as paint, plaster, cleaners, abrasives, or corrosive residues. There shall be no damaged parts that may adversely affect safe operation or mechanical strength of the equipment such as parts that are broken; bent; cut; or deteriorated by corrosion, chemical action, or overheating.

In this case the paint will have caused a problem by affecting the safe operation of the devices. I for one can vouch for that.

 

[tonyi]

Re: Painted Over Equipment

Originally posted by jro:
In this case the paint will have caused a problem by affecting the safe operation of the devices.

Bad attitude jro - what could be safer than a receptical that you can't plug anythig into?

Got a bad one? grab the texture paint or stucco and just make it disapear, problem solved

 

[crash]

Re: Painted Over Equipment

It seems to me that 110.12(c) states ".....insulators..... paint....", the bakelite surface between the hot terminal and the "neutral" terminal and the ground terminal of a receptacle is an insulator. If it is acceptable to paint this surface using an unlisted product, then it would be acceptable to wall paper over this surface using aluminum foil. The insulating properties or conducting properties of the paint have not been established.

 

[tonyi]

Re: Painted Over Equipment

There's a *LOT* of electrically conductive paint products on the market.