Turn someone in

[NEC Inspector]

He doesn’t know what he’s doing and he causes lots of damage

I estimate that, so far this year, as a result of the job I have, I deal with about $30,000-$50,000 worth of damage done to unsuspecting low to mid income victims every year by scummy unlicensed contractors who get away scot-free because they are not collectible. That's not counting commercial and rich people getting ripped off. When I finally catch one and can make something stick, I have no mercy.

If unlicensed people doing work don't cause problems and I am not an inspector with a job to do, who really cares. If they are causing lots of damage - well, then, dropping a dime on him is a good deed that doesn't take much time and has no real downside. Even if people figure out you did it, that will just make them think before they get you involved in sketchy crap in the future. For me, I just take the stance that if I can make a phone call that makes it a little harder for this guy to do damage in my area, that benefits everyone in my community.

That said, the building department probably already knows about this guy, so you telling them might not matter at all. Especially if it involves getting out of the truck...

 

[Strathead]

Also none of the outlets in the doctors office were hospital grade. They had a suspended ceiling, and I have no doubt it was wired in romex too. It was purposely built as a doctor’s office, so there was no excuses.

Just FYI, the requirement to use hospital grade receptacles in a doctor's off is extremely rare. The most violated issue is redundant grounding in patient care spaces.

 

[infinity]

Should I warn him that someone’s gonna bite his ass or should I turn them in?

I'm not a big fan of dropping a dime on someone unless it directly affects me. Most people know that when guys don't get permits or have a license and they're hiring them anyway it's because they're cheap so caveat emptor.

 

[hillbilly1]

Assuming a 240 volt circuit that should not turn the NM brown...sure a code violation, but the load is less than the 75°C ampacity of the 14 AWG.

It did, wish I had a picture of it, but it was before camera phones, and I didn’t have a regular camera. This was probably before they started using 90 degree wire in romex.

 

[hillbilly1]

Just FYI, the requirement to use hospital grade receptacles in a doctor's off is extremely rare. The most violated issue is redundant grounding in patient care spaces.

City of Alpharetta made us use hospital grade mc and receptacles in exam rooms.

 

[Fred B]

Getting a home owner to turn them in would be best in your case.

IF the HO can be made to see the safety concerns that may work. But most times all they care about is the lights come on and it was cheap.

AC/DC, are you an inspector or just another contractor? Inspector would be obliged to report, but as another contractor a report may be seen as sour grapes complaint and gets you nothing but a reputation of such.
See that type of thing ALL the time around me. If you have no irons in the job, at most if you have a connection to the HO spell out to the HO the dangerous installation. If the contractor doing the installs is licensed I believe the licensing board has a process to report, but if he is not licensed or no license is required, then simply pose this questions to the building dept. without naming names until a response from them that asks "Who?".

Just my opinion.

 

[AC\DC]

Just a friend of both the contractor and the client—— I like the contractor but he cutting into my work and doing really shoddy crap—- I told homeowner who is also a contractor the story I am going over for a case of beer to look it over it it’s bad I’ll show the owner and tell him how I think he should handle it and leave it at that….
I will probably corner the other guy and tell him he going to get into trouble if he keeps it up

 

[Strathead]

City of Alpharetta made us use hospital grade mc and receptacles in exam rooms.

That seems like an arbitrary rule.