Your most observed code violation?

Merry Christmas
Status
Not open for further replies.
G

GG

Senior Member
Location
Ft.Worth, T.X.
I would have to say the code violation I see most violated on a weekly basis is 408.41 - "Each grounded conductor shall terminate within the panelboard in an individual terminal that is not also used for another conductor." I use to work with 1 guy that would cram 3 grounded conductors under 1 screw when I was an apprentice. Well, who am I kidding, it was me. :roll: Do any of you have code violations you see alot of?
 
Re: Your most observed code violation?

See lots of non-CTL tandems in CTL panels. Also see lots of box fill issues. See lots of the 1" Westinghouse style breakers mixed and matched in panels that they weren't really investigated for use in.

[ June 22, 2005, 11:06 PM: Message edited by: mdshunk ]
 
Re: Your most observed code violation?

Three 12/2 with ground in a 20 cubic inch device box for a kitchen receptacle. This should have a reinspection fee and a loss of license for four years. Wish I could add week-ends in jail.
:D :D
Let?s not forget that lamp plugged into the small appliance receptacle. This should have at least 30 days jail time.
:D :D
 
Re: Your most observed code violation?

Wow, jail time for code violations? Hope thats not retroactive! My other famous move as an apprentice would be to go to the job trailer in the morning and get a pouch full of blue wire nuts and go make up j boxes. If a j box had 10 white wires in it well they were get'n a blue wire nut.

[ June 22, 2005, 11:15 PM: Message edited by: GG ]
 
Re: Your most observed code violation?

Here is a small article I wrote about residential violations for the publicaiton I do monthly:
Ten Common Residential Violations of the NEC, other than nail plates

1. Box fill: The most common violation that I write up. Briefly, hot and every neutral (other than pigtails) are counted as 1 conductor. All of the equipment grounds are added together and counted as one conductor. Any device that terminates in the box is counted as two conductors. 14 AWG=2.00 cubic inches, 12 AWG=2.25 cubic inches. A typical violation would be (3) 12-2 NM cables and a device (switch or receptacle) in an 18 cubic inch box. This would be a total of (9) 2.25 cubic inch conductors, totaling 20.25 cubic inches. [314.16]

2. At least one 15 or 20 amp, 125 volt receptacle must be installed within 25? of an air conditioner. [210.63]

3. At least 1/4? of NM cable sheathing must extend into every device box. [314.17(C)]

4. Metal raceways used as service lateral conduits must be reamed to remove sharp edges. Have you ever reached into a conduit to check this and came up bleeding? I have :( [342.28, 344.28].

5. A neutral to ground connection is not allowed downstream of the service disconnect?check for green screws in subpanels. [250.24(A)(5)].

6. Bonding jumpers on the supply side of the service (service lateral raceways) must not be smaller than specified in table 250.66. [250.104(C)]

7. Ground rods must be buried below the surface of the earth, not 6? above grade. [250.53(G)].

8. Switches are required to be grounded, whether a metal faceplate is installed or not. Yeah, I know its been required for 6 years now, but I still see this all of the time :( . Remember: Grounding one switch in a multigang box does not remove the requirement of grounding each switch. [404.9(B)].

9. 120/240-volt conductors must be separated from class 2 or remote/signaling circuits. Check the fireplace switch location and the doorbell chime location (also, the doorbell transformer). Permanently installed barriers can be used to separate the two voltage system where installed in the same box. Note: This does not apply to the cable, such as NM, it applies only to the conductors (inside the NM cable). [725.55].

10. White conductors in cable assemblies (such as NM cable) are not allowed to be used as ungrounded (hot) conductors, unless re-identified as other than white or green. This is very common for three way switch applications. Conductors installed in raceways (such as the liquid tight for an A/C) must be the correct color, and re-identifying a white conductor is not permitted. [200.7(C)].
Click to expand...
 
Re: Your most observed code violation?

Off the top of my head I'd have to agree that conductor fill violations are the most common that I see. Also the multiple conductors terminated where only single conductor termination is allowed. :( Ryan had a good list.
 
Re: Your most observed code violation?

1. Section 110.12 Mechanical Execution of Work. Electrical equipment shall be installed in a neat and workmanlike manner. Too bad this section is not exactly enforceable.


2. 408.4 Circuit Directory or Circuit Identification. I'm sorry but "lights" or "plugs" don't cut it. Identification in general is almost non-existent in my area, perhaps everywhere.
 
Re: Your most observed code violation?

17 months as an inspector, here is the absolute number 1 violation - heads and shoulders above the rest.

"5. A neutral to ground connection is not allowed downstream of the service disconnect?check for green screws in subpanels. [250.24(A)(5)]."
(from Ryan's list)

The next closest is panel labeling...excuse me lack of panel labeling :)
 
Re: Your most observed code violation?

7. Ground rods must be buried below the surface of the earth, not 6? above grade. [250.53(G)].

I don't think I have ever seen a ground rod that did not extend above the surface.

Of course, one would not see it if it were buried. :)
 
Re: Your most observed code violation?

1.Swimming Pool filter motors with attached cords that contain an equipment grounding conductor smaller than 12 AWG.

2.The improper supply for emergency unit equipment.

3.The non-use of a locking type disconnect for submersible well pump motors.

4.The non-bonding of service raceways and equipment.

5.The non-use of expansion fittings on conduits emerging from the earth that are attached to fixed equipment and are installed in locations that are subject to ground movement.

6.The non-use of expansion fittings in Rigid Non-Metallic (PVC) conduits that are subject to thermal expansion and contraction.
 
Re: Your most observed code violation?

Attached Is My List Of (30) Items That I Tend To See A Lot On Commercial Projects.

1.) Light Fixture Support From Ceiling Wires (Independent Of The Ceiling Support Wires) Opposite Corners Of Light Fixture (2000 IBC 1621.2.5 says they need thier own wires) {1997 UBC section 25.213}
2.) Light Fixture Screwed Or earthquake Clipped To Grid Ceiling {Per NEC 410-16?}
3.) Neutral Bar In Sub Electrical Panels Not Bonded To Ground
4.) Knockout Closuresa In All Unused Openings In Electrical Boxes. {1993 NEC 110-12(a)}
5.) Make Sure There Are Not Any Electrical Items Entering A Stair Enclosure That Do Not Specifically Feed The Stair Enclosure.{Per 1996 BOCA 1014.11.2}
6.) Firestopping Exterior Of Electrical Conduits Penetrating A Rated Wall
7.) Firestopping The Interior Of Electrical Sleeves (Usually For Tele/Data Cables) Penetrating A Rated Wall
8.) Label All Electrical Items
9.) Install Panel Schedules In All Panelboards
10.) Install Circuit Breaker Closures In Unused Circuit Breaker Openings In Panels
11.) Verify That There Is The Required Working Clearance in Front Of Electrical Equipment (Minimum 3'-0" Deep x 2'-6" Wide x 6'-0" High)
12.) Verify That There Is Not Any Foreign Equipment, Ductwork, Or Piping Installed Above The Electrical Equipment In The Electrical Rooms.{Per 1996 NEC 110-16(e)}
13.) Look For Plastic Bushings On The End Of Conduit Stubs For Communications Cabling
14.) Adequate Clearance Around Transformers.
15.) Vibration Isolation For Transformers (If Required By Specifications)
16.) Grounding Bushings On The End Of The EMT Conduit (Which Is Carrying The Grounding Conductor)To Make The Pathway Continuous.{1996 NEC 250-92(b)} {1999 NEC 250-64(e)}
17.) Spot Check Conductor Sizing To Determine If It Meets The Ampacity Required For The Equipment It Is Serving.
18.) Spot Check Branch Circuit Conduits To Verify That The Conductor Fill And Derating Requirements Have Been Followed.
19.) Spot Check Areas For Elevated EMF Fields.
20.) Temporary Light Stringers (Whether They Are Using The Molded Type Or The Old Individual Conductor Type Of Conductors)
21.) Receptacle Orientation. Make Sure It Is Consistent Throughout The Project.
22.) Conductor Colors (Brown, Orange, Yellow For 277/480V & Black, Red, Blue For 120/208V)
23.) MC Cable May Not Be Supported From Ceiling Grid Support Wires. Install Separate Wire And Attach MC Cable To It {Per NEC 300-11(a)(2)}
24.) The Starter Locations Must Be readily Accessible Per Section 380-8(a) of The 1993 NEC.
25.) Per NEC Section 517-13(a) The MC Cable Used To Feed The Receptacle In A Patient Care Area Is Required To Be Health Care Grade. (For Non-Emergency Circuits Only) {Emergency Circuits Must Be Run In Conduit}
26.) Per NEC Section 517-18 The Receptacles Used In A Patient Care Area Shall Be Listed As "Hospital Grade" The Receptacle.
27.) Ground Cable Tray In Accordance With NEC 318-7(a)
28.) Tele/Data Cable Installed In Slab On Grade under To Floor Boxes Needs To Be Listed For Wet Location. Research into the various codes and design methods for under-slab conduit construction reveals that 300.5(D)(5) of the 2002 NEC requires that ?cables and insulated conductors installed in enclosures or raceways in underground installations shall be listed for use in wet locations.? In addition, BICSI?s Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual, Chapter 4, Section 1, page 4-5, under the heading ?Wet Locations? states, ??slab-on-grade construction where pathways are installed underground or in concrete slabs that are in direct contact with soil (e.g., sand, gravel, etc.) are considered to be ?wet locations?.?
29.) If The Emergency System Is Considered A NEC Article 700 System Then Per 1999 NEC 700-9(b) The Emergency Wiring And The Normal Power Wiring Cannot Occupy The Same Raceway.
30.) Insulated Fittings Where Raceways Containing Ungrounded Conductors #4 or Larger Enter A Cabinet, Box Enclosure Or Raceway, The Conductors Shall Be Protected By A Substantial Fitting Providing A Smoothly Rounded Insulating Surface, Unless The Conductors Are Separated From The Fitting Or Raceway By Substantial Insulating Material That Is Securely Fastened In Place. {1999 NEC 300-4(f)} {2002 NEC 300.4(f)} (Threaded IMC & Rigid Require A Bushing For Any Size Wire, IMC, Rigid, EMT, PVC, & ENT With Connector #4 & Larger Requires A Bushing)
 
Re: Your most observed code violation?

Ed
If you see these:
"21.) Receptacle Orientation. Make Sure It Is Consistent Throughout The Project.
22.) Conductor Colors (Brown, Orange, Yellow For 277/480V & Black, Red, Blue For 120/208V)"

What section of the code do you cite?
 
Re: Your most observed code violation?

Pierre,

I am do not look for just code violations but also specification violations. Since i deal strictly with commercial projects we always have specifications and every one of those specifications calls for wire color. Regarding the receptacle orientation this is a specification requirement in about 10% of the specifications that I see. We even had a project at SW Missouri State that specified if the receptacle was above the counter height the ground pin was to be mounted down and if it was below the counter height the ground pin was to be mounted up.
-Ed
 
Re: Your most observed code violation?

Bill,

That should read similar to Ryan's Item number 5. I just did not word it very well.
-Ed
 
Re: Your most observed code violation?

Ed, you mention more than one code cycle, you can't use 96, 99, and later all at the same time.

Your list looks more like a set of specs than all code violations.


Roger
 
Re: Your most observed code violation?

Ed
Not that I am arguing, but I have not been instructed to inspect to job specification, just code compliance. Here it is the job super or the builder's engineer that inspects for compliance with the job specs.

I wonder how many inspectors inspect for job specs.
The additional specs - from job to job could be confusing to remember, especially when some of the specifications are pages long :eek:

[ June 23, 2005, 10:18 AM: Message edited by: pierre ]
 
Re: Your most observed code violation?

Pierre,

some inspectors are not employed by the government, but by the owner or the engineering firm. In that case they enforce the job specs because that is what they are paid to do! and paid better than the government agency!

Fred Bender
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top