Resturant NM Code

[iwire]

I don't see it as an "abuse of power" by the electrical official who is bound by law to enforce provisions of law that are set out in annual fire safety of public assembly type inspections.

Yes 'bound by law to enforce provisions of law' while not breaking the law while doing so.

Pierre put it well a few posts ago.

I see it as a willingness to work out a deal with the owner and whatever contractor the owner wants to hire.

It is not 'worked out' or a 'deal' when the owner of the business is being blackmailed into the decision.

Another way to look at it might be this way: "abuse of power" by the owner of the bar/restaurant who neglected to pull permits for electrical installations, and neglected to have inspections performed, but allowed his patrons to occupy the establishment to full capacity.

We have no idea if that happened at all.

In NY State, we are required by law to conduct inspections annually in places of assembly. This has been a good thing for the safety of people using buildings, and even for the economy from work generated by the defects noted during the inspection process.

It is a good thing, what does the law say about the proper procedure to have violations corrected?

Does it say the inspector shall close the business, tell an EC to go fix it all, and bill the owner?

To me the fact the inspector said 'to punish them' is a bad sign, I could be wrong.

 

[wbalsam1]

I have a job today to work on for a resturant that has been closed down by the county deputy inspector for electrical code violations. The electrical inspector wants me to go thru this resturant with a fine tooth comb and find any problem that I can. He said for me to fix it and make them pay for it and he would back me up on it. This is his way of punishing them for not fixing these problem when they were told to...........

I don't see a problem with this much of it, providing that the owner approves of this relationship.
This could get "questionable", here. The inspector should provide a list of violations and a reasonable time to fix them and leave the wheeling and dealing up to the building owner.
The look of impropriety must be addressed.

 

[wbalsam1]

......

Does it say the inspector shall close the business, tell an EC to go fix it all, and bill the owner?

To me the fact the inspector said 'to punish them' is a bad sign, I could be wrong.

This type of behavior would not be fitting or proper for an official.

 

[dnem]

This could get "questionable", here. The inspector should provide a list of violations and a reasonable time to fix them and leave the wheeling and dealing up to the building owner.

If the general inspector isn't qualified to understand the electrical requirements and provide a list of violations, then he should bring in an electrical inspector to perform an inspection, write a list of violations, and give the owner a copy.

The inspector dealing with the contractor directly and giving him a "blank check" is wrong.

David

 

[wbalsam1]

If the general inspector isn't qualified to understand the electrical requirements and provide a list of violations, then he should bring in an electrical inspector to perform an inspection, write a list of violations, and give the owner a copy.

The inspector dealing with the contractor directly and giving him a "blank check" is wrong.

David

I agree with all you've said.

 

[bradleyelectric]

I'm not sure that the inspector hired the OP. All I took it as they had a conversation. We can get a job from anywhere and call and talk to an inspector or call for an investigation inspection to have an inspector come out to a job and go over what it is they want done on a mess around here. The owner of the building may have received an order to close and called the OP and had him look at the job and the OP called the inspection department to see what they were looking for and the inspection department wanted to have the place brought up to current code as if they were going for a new CofO. This was triggered due to the fact they did not originally comply with order of violations. It is good for the building owner due to the fact they can correct the violations without making them go through the whole process so they could be open in a timely fashion if they complied this time. If they did not comply this time than it may have triggered a whole new building permit review proccess that would have been a lengthy ordeal and much more burdensome for the property owner. Instead of all that they let contractors in to fix the problems without the review proccess and saved the building owner the time involved. Than again I'm not involved in this project in anyway and it may be a scheme with inspectors and contractors to bleed wealthy business owners out of hard earned dollars.

 

[jshaw]

You don't say how big the resturant is, but it may be classified as an assembly occupancy and the NM cable would be a violation anyway (100 or more).

But, only if it's fire rated construction. 518.4 (B) says NM okay in nonrated construction, right?

 

[bth0mas20]

The last two days I have been correcting issues that Ive found. The owner has paid me to this point. They have asked me to have the inspector come and inspect it and get a list of the final "violations to fix". Then they will have me return to fix those problems. The inspection will be tomorrow and we will see what they say.

The county has warned the business owner numerous times to fix their problem and they didnt so they closed them down for more than just electrical reasons.

By the way what do you charge to replace a gfi when 30 cockroaches fall out of the box when the cover is removed? Im thinking at least $200 because I went to bed last night because I bought dinner from a different resturant and threw it away and went to bed on an empty stomach.

 

[cowboyjwc]

But, only if it's fire rated construction. 518.4 (B) says NM okay in nonrated construction, right?

You're correct, but at 50 people, the building code is going to require that it's a rated building (type V 1hr) anyways so....That and here we don't see a lot of NM in commercial anyways.

This is where the term "I'm only care about the NEC" can get you in trouble.

 

[Tiger Electrical]

Bump.

What happened?

Dave

 

[realolman]

The last two days I have been correcting issues that Ive found. The owner has paid me to this point. They have asked me to have the inspector come and inspect it and get a list of the final "violations to fix". Then they will have me return to fix those problems. The inspection will be tomorrow and we will see what they say.

The county has warned the business owner numerous times to fix their problem and they didnt so they closed them down for more than just electrical reasons.

By the way what do you charge to replace a gfi when 30 cockroaches fall out of the box when the cover is removed? Im thinking at least $200 because I went to bed last night because I bought dinner from a different resturant and threw it away and went to bed on an empty stomach.

I think this whole deal is crazy. What inspector has the right to close a business down when he doesn't even know what is wrong with it?? If the owner doesn't kiss his butt when you're done, are there going to be more violations? As part of 2 days work that shuts down a business, you're replacing a GFI?! If I was the owner, he'd be talking to my attorney.

Sounds more like organized crime to me.

 

[dnem]

I think this whole deal is crazy. What inspector has the right to close a business down when he doesn't even know what is wrong with it?? If the owner doesn't kiss his butt when you're done, are there going to be more violations?

Conflict of interest

If the inspector is closing down the business and then relying a contractor to tell him what needs corrected, should that same contractor be making the money to fix the issues.

Isn't that a conflict of interest ?

David