Pierre Belarge

yuck! who's responsible for this awful mess

I like how they wrap the wires around the copper water pipe for support.

Hideous,
What runs through the piping? Is it legit to run piping over a panel like that?

Tim

Those panels look like they had indigestion from Thanksgiving and hoarked out a rats nest with all the trimmings

Is that temporary Romex entering the top of the panel just threaded through the bare knockout with no protection?

Not that it seems like such a big deal looking at the way most of the other cables are just hanging there......

See 110.26(F)

I'll probably regret saying this...

What's the problem? This is temporary wiring for the convenience of the contractors. Who hasn't done something like this when it's needed? What matters is whether the final product meets code.

If you're going to complain that the temporary wiring isn't properly supported at the panel, then why stop there? Demand that the romex be nailed up and protected all the way back to the receptacles. What the heck, if it's commercial property, don't even let 'em use romex for temporary wiring at all -- demand MC or AC. Where do you draw the line?

The point is, I see nothing inherently unsafe about this practice. Anybody in the construction trades walking by these rats nests will give them wide berth.

The only problem I'd have is if the building is occupied and the area is accessible to tenants, in which case the panels should be closed up and the wires secured against accidental movement.

Now, how come phase C in the top picture is white, and if it's an existing panel, where's the conduit for the feeder???

John
I hope you are kidding.
The reason I posted these pictures is because the practice you see is pretty common, but is deplorable. It is not professional or safe in any manner, and does not comform to many code requirements. Your response is pretty typical for contractors who have not learned the proper way to install electrical installations, whether temporary or permanent.

BTW: This work gets red tagged every time, and is considered hazardous, so I also make sure that it is corrected IMMEDIATELY.


A question to add to this post.
These installations are in dwellings. The installer leaves at night to go home. The homeowner has no lights, as during the day one of the circuits has been tripped during the construction. Would anyone feel comfortable with having the homeowner trying to reset one of these circuit breakers?

[This message has been edited by PCBelarge (edited 11-29-2005).]

I forgot to answer about the plumbing pipe. In the picture it is difficult to tell, but the pipe is actually behind the panel.
And yes, this work is as bad as it looks.

The open energized panel is an automatic OSHA citation if they would come onsite.
Don

Article 590 discusses temporary wiring.

Temporary wiring is exempt from many of the requirements for "regular" wiring. One need not use junction boxes for splices; we have an enormous amount of lattitude as to support, strain relief, and the like.

There are only two issues that I see. The panel cover is one; concievably, all these wires could simply pass through an unrpotected hole in the panel- or even between the cover and the case.

The other issue is the lack of GFI protection of these "temporary" circuits.

Pierre: No, I wasn't kidding. I simply contend that the degree of care required for such temporary arrangements depends on the circumstances, including duration of the work, accessibility to non-qualified persons, and occupancy during construction. What if the panel is in a locked room, to which only qualified personnel have access? Would you still object?

These are probably not so guarded, and so I'll grant you that the missing covers are probably a real violation, as Reno pointed out. But if the temporary receptacles are integral GFCI types, then there might not even be any other violations here.

In your hypothetical case of an occupied dwelling, I think I made it clear that a much higher degree of support and physical protection is required.


Golly, that's a little harsh. Didn't I just say that how important it is that the final product meets code? You have no idea how many hours I've spent making my own installations "over-the-top" neat and workmanlike. Even the temporary ones.


[This message has been edited by John Crighton (edited 11-29-2005).]

590.2 All Wiring Installations.
(A) Other Articles. except as specifically modified in this article, ALL other requirements of this Code for permanent wiring shall apply to temporary wiring installations.

590.4 General
(A) Services.
Services shall be installed in conformance with Article 230.

Now if the pictures shown conform with Article 230 ... I am a monkey's uncle.

-Securing of cables to boxes, enclosures
-Fittings used
-Identification of circuits
-covers missing
-110.12, even if it is not admissable in court

...And we wonder why the "professional" perception of our industry has all but disappeared.


THATS RIGHT, THIS REALLY PEAVES ME!!!!!! FOR LACK OF BETTER WAYS TO SAY THIS IN A PUBLIC FORUM.