Unused electrical equipment shall be removed

[Nate Scott]

I searched this question out & I only saw info from the year 2003.
Was this question on unused abandoned equipment that is left in place, shall be permanently tagged & identified at all terminations because of a potential electrical shock hazard, addressed in the 2005 or 2008 NEC. I still see demo crews cutting conduits at a machine with the branch circuit off and leaving and saying are job is done that's all we are responsible for for our job costs,
and no one is responsible for the safety of the work place when they leave.

 

[infinity]

Power raceways, cables and equipment are not required to be removed by the NEC. They can be left in place for future use or to rust away if someone so chooses.

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Local laws not withstanding, one is not required to removed abandoned equipment or line voltage wiring.

Make sure your local laws are the same...otherwise that could be a costly mistake.

 

[Volta]

I searched this question out & I only saw info from the year 2003.
Was this question on unused abandoned equipment that is left in place, shall be permanently tagged & identified at all terminations because of a potential electrical shock hazard, addressed in the 2005 or 2008 NEC.

Are you thinking of
725.25 and the like? Chapters 7 and 8 only, I think.

I still see demo crews cutting conduits at a machine with the branch circuit off and leaving and saying are job is done that's all we are responsible for for our job costs,
and no one is responsible for the safety of the work place when they leave.

You could go with:
110.7 "ground faults",
110.14(B) "free ends",
300.15 "termination point",
310.2(A) "insulated".

 

[drbond24]

Was this question on unused abandoned equipment that is left in place, shall be permanently tagged & identified at all terminations because of a potential electrical shock hazard, addressed in the 2005 or 2008 NEC.

You have no idea how many times I've both seen and written the words 'abandon in place'. I don't like it, but that is the way it is.

The only place I've ever worked that removed old cable from cable tray / conduit when they were de-engergized only did it because they had already been abandoning stuff in place for 40 years. Their cable trays were full to the brim with old cable that wasn't doing anything. In order to install new stuff, they HAD to remove some of the old stuff to make room (or install new cable tray, which they did in some places).

I still see demo crews cutting conduits at a machine with the branch circuit off and leaving and saying are job is done that's all we are responsible for for our job costs...

I have never met a contractor that would not do anything you asked if you paid him for it. If their standard procedure is to abandon stuff in place and you want them to go ahead and remove it, all it takes is $$$. One of the members here (can't remember which one at present) has a signature that says he can build anything you want if you draw a picture of it on the back of a big enough check. :grin:

...and no one is responsible for the safety of the work place when they leave

The same people are always responsible for the safety of the workplace. I've never seen or heard of a workplace that didn't have a safety coordinator of some kind. If you perceive a safety hazard you should take it to this safety person. If they agree then it would be up to them to come up with the $$$ to get the contractor to remove the equipment you are worried about or get someone else to do it after they leave.

 

[ptrip]

Every job I design demo on, I state "XX Equipment to be removed. Disconnect and remove cable and exposed conduit to source."

I haven't yet had to remove that line due to "value engineering" (though I'm sure that day is coming) . I have had to argue with Contractors because they, about 30% of the time, abandon the cables in place.

I can't stand to see abandoned cables ... I believe it's poor design and possibly a safety hazard (if both ends aren't disconnected). If I'm not re-using the cables it's because of their age and/or condition ... why would I leave it there for some poor schmuck to attempt to reuse in the future?

 

[drbond24]

Every job I design demo on, I state "XX Equipment to be removed. Disconnect and remove cable and exposed conduit to source."

I haven't yet had to remove that line due to "value engineering" (though I'm sure that day is coming) . I have had to argue with Contractors because they, about 30% of the time, abandon the cables in place.

I can't stand to see abandoned cables ... I believe it's poor design and possibly a safety hazard (if both ends aren't disconnected). If I'm not re-using the cables it's because of their age and/or condition ... why would I leave it there for some poor schmuck to attempt to reuse in the future?

I agree with you 100%, but value engineering kept me from ever adding that line in the first place.

 

[iwire]

Every job I design demo on, I state "XX Equipment to be removed. Disconnect and remove cable and exposed conduit to source."

Shouldn't that be up to the person paying the bill?

I own a building, I have some remodeling done and you want me to pay to remove wiring and conduits that I may have a use for in the future?