Is 110.12(C) violated when equipment is spray painted with graffiti?

What if the label or nameplate is painted?


Do you work in areas where vandalism is a problem?

I can remember once when the service was completely torn off of a a building just after it was completed so that the equipment could be sold!

An inspector I once knew from Hoboken, NJ said he always asked the electrical contractor to be on the job the day they finished, so he could have the utility company hook it up!

The next time I get a new house job or a large addition where paint will be sprayed, I am going to stuff paper towels in the recessed cans to keep overspray out.
I tried to clean it off and it was very tedious without solvent.
Does anyone take the time to clean off this paint?

Pieces of insulation work pretty good to keep the paint out Redsy. We always stuff some in each can.

Russell

Thanks, ga.!

I don't think vandals abide by the rules of the NEC, therefore graffiti on equipment is not a violation.

Found in Minneapolis, MN



No sure, I think this was taken in someone's home in Los Angeles?

This reminds me of riding Amtrak into Chicago from the east. When I came in on that line in 1995 almost every trackside box along the Gary-Hammond-Whiting-Chicago corridor seemed to be covered with spray paint.

You see the same coming into London from Heathrow airport by train.

If vandalism were <i>that</i> much of a problem I'D MOVE!

IMO it's the painters problem and responsibility to mask off anything that shouldn't get painted. In most cases they do.
If they are painting a boiler room do they just spray right over the boiler, circulators, etc.? No. Should we have to stuff insulation in every can and box instead of the painter doing his job? You would never catch me cleaning paint off the inside of a hi-hat. I'd call the painter and let him do it.

Hoboken!

I had to laugh when I saw this topic.

I had been emailing with Joe Tedesco and mentioned I installed a 3R panel outside on a Friday and it had graffiti on it by Monday morning.

Joe sent me an email back with a link to here.

For my particular case no NEC violations, the panel has absolutely no markings on the outside.

Luckily you need a key to open the door and see the nameplates.

The GC has since cleaned the graffiti and I imagine the panel will be painted to match the building finish. (at least till the next tagging)

Bob

Thinkgood,

The "penguin" episode!!

Joe, the article says "internal" parts. So I assume if only the metal locker holding the equipment (switch box, etc.) is spraypainted and no paint gets inside....yes it would be annoying but not critical to safe use.

Here in New York, the minute a fresh new surface becomes available (someone puts up a new phone booth, freshly painted wall, newspaper vending machine or an electrical box on the side of a building or a new door or gate on a building), it takes about a day or so for bumper stickers touting new releases of rap/hip-hop LPs and spray-painted "tags" to make their appearance.

And then there are the ubiquitous "EMERGENCY 24-HOUR LOCKSMITH, CALL 212-XXX-XX-XX" round stickers on EVERY SINGLE LOCK (even padlocks on meter boxes and mailboxes).

Speedy Petey: Some of us don't have the option to move somewhere else.

I believe there are special paints or some sort of coatings that are treated so that things like spray paint, shoe polish and magic-marker scribbles don't "stick" to it. Maybe if a GC had the painters use this sort of thing on electrical equipment?

[This message has been edited by SvenNYC (edited 11-12-2003).]

Often there is a label on the panel schedule that says to not get paint on the breakers. Would getting paint on them be violating manufacturer's instructions?

Sven, that's a shame. For me it was either go all the way out on the Island or Upstate. I knew from an early age I needed to get the hell away from the city. I guess I'm not cut out for it.
I did work in the Boroughs, even Manhattan a few times. My boss was working under someone elses license so we had to do everything hush-hush. We had to lock everything up tight even if we were 10 feet away. Always looking over your shoulder to catch anyone who might grab something. One time in the Bronx I had roaches crawling on my leg. I walked off the job.
I absolutely HATED it!