Originally Posted By: Joe Tedesco This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Just a reminder added to the NEC in the 1999 edition:
Quote:
Receptacles Mounted on Covers. Receptacles mounted to and supported by a cover shall be held rigidly against the cover by more than one screw or shall be a device assembly or box cover listed and identified for securing by a single screw.
I might also be concerned about the way the box was secured to the surface it was mounted on.
Be sure to check for proper support.
PS: These types of raised, or flat cover mounted receptacles also require an equipment bonding jumper (green or bare) pigtail to be connected to the green screw on the receptacle, and to a threaded screw hole in the box (sheet metal screw is not permitted) or to a LISTED grounding clip.
Originally Posted By: Joe Tedesco This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Joe
I agree that it would have been better to provide a "backboard" here, and after time in the present location which is a basement, I can assure you that the dampness will attack the metal box and it will become a rusty box.
Think about the lost continuity on all of the terminals, and how it will affect the equipment grounding. A good point to remember is, when metal boxes are mounted on the inside of outside walls there will be moisture. I can remember replacing receptacles, while working in Fort Totten where all of the boxes on the walls described above were all green and rusted out!
The following rule can be found in the 2002 NEC.
Quote:
110.13 Mounting and Cooling of Equipment.
(A) Mounting. Electrical equipment shall be firmly secured to the surface on which it is mounted.
Wooden plugs driven into holes in masonry, concrete, plaster, or similar materials shall not be used.
Originally Posted By: roconnor This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Mike … I assume you mean that if it was NM run in the EMT for protection, that the fitting at the box would need a special clamp designed to hold the NM cable securely in place (also 334.15.B and 300.15.C). Sounds like a special fitting a sparky wouldn’t usually carry around. Is that where you were going?
– Robert O’Connor, PE
Eagle Engineering ?
Eagle Eye Inspections ?
NACHI Education Committee
I am absolutely amazed sometimes by how much thought goes into doing things wrong
Originally Posted By: jpeck This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Mike Parks wrote:
Joe
Was the wiring method NM? If so the above example is a violation of 314.17(B). This is a common violation.
Mike P.
Mike,
I think you made an extra leap from what was shown, assuming the EMT was just there for 'protection from physical damage' with NM cable inside it.
I've seen this run with EMT from box to box, with NM inside it. Just stating that NM cable inside it will not necessarily be a violation of that code section. Under your additional assumptions (gathered off your referenced post), yes, just not a blanket yes for all conditions.
Originally Posted By: jmyers This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Joe T.
Unfortunately, I must be the one to find all those rusted, corroded boxes in the basement. It is pretty typical to be able to poke a hole in one with little or no effort.
Originally Posted By: Mike Parks This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Jerry
Yes I made a leap. Just for example purposes.
NM not secure to a metal box is always a code violation. Read 314.17(B).
The article that started the above link explains what I have been telling other sparkies for a while now.
Originally Posted By: jpeck This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Mike,
"NM not secure to a metal box is always a code violation. Read 314.17(B). "
Not as a blanket statement. When NM cable is run inside conduit, from box to box in the raceway, it does not need to be secured to the box any more than regular THW insulated conductors would need to be.
I know that is not what you were considering, but you did make a blanket statement, which was all inclusive.
Originally Posted By: jmyers This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Mike,
You would of course be assuming that they did not splice back the cable sheathing to extend into the box, in that case there would be nothing to secure, just as with thhn or any other wire.
Originally Posted By: roconnor This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Mike Parks wrote:
NM not secure to a metal box is always a code violation. Read 314.17(B).
Are you saying that that code section requires any wire/cable run completely in conduit (box to box) must be secured at the box? How do ya get that only NM needs to be secured from that? Seems a bit of a stretch as that section really only applies to "open wiring", where "the wiring" needs to be secured at the box.
But I think we all agree that MN with a short vertical run of conduit for protection needs to be secured at the box. The remaining exposed NM wiring is sometimes used to hang things, so that makes sense.
RP ... are those fittings for the NM commonly available or something a sparky might have with him? Sounds like a special item.
-- Robert O'Connor, PE
Eagle Engineering ?
Eagle Eye Inspections ?
NACHI Education Committee
I am absolutely amazed sometimes by how much thought goes into doing things wrong