canderson5
(Cameron Anderson)
July 15, 2012, 10:32pm
1
…after the whole “outlet in a closet” saga. Found this below a bathroom sink. Just the fact that the box was open to the underside of the cabinet due to the hole in the wall gave me pause.
Would this be considered at all hazardous?
Should the receptacle be changed to a GFCI?
Should the hole just be closed up?
Should I just go have a beer and forget about it?
sstanczyk
(Stephen Stanczyk, WA License #221)
July 15, 2012, 10:34pm
2
Beer.
What were the two wires going to?
jpope
(Jeffrey Pope, CMI, CHI, CPI, ICC)
July 15, 2012, 10:36pm
3
I see no “hazard” with regard to the receptacle. GFCI protection is certainly not required and would not be warranted as an “upgrade.”
My concern would be with the wires. What are they for and are they 120V. Removing the wires and covering the hole is all that should be necessary.
canderson5
(Cameron Anderson)
July 15, 2012, 10:42pm
4
They went through another hole and off to a couple of phone jacks in an attached room and a second floor. This was an addition to the house and half of the work was professional and half was DIY.
mlarson
(Michael Larson, WI Lic. # 1672-106)
July 15, 2012, 11:23pm
5
Low voltage wiring does not require protection from contact.
I see no problem beyond the unsightly hole in the wall.
Oh and the tail piece on the sink drain is about to leak.
ccurrins
(Christopher Currins, CMI)
July 15, 2012, 11:28pm
6
Looks like K&T at receptacle?
Only issue I see is someone (kid) sticking their hand through the hole either accidentally, or when reaching for something in cabinet.
sstanczyk
(Stephen Stanczyk, WA License #221)
July 15, 2012, 11:44pm
7
ccurrins:
Looks like K&T at receptacle?
Only issue I see is someone (kid) sticking their hand through the hole either accidentally, or when reaching for something in cabinet.
Or maybe he is going to iron under there cause there was no receptacle in the closet
… :mrgreen:
wwilson3
(Wayne Wilson, TN 439)
July 15, 2012, 11:53pm
8
canderson5:
…after the whole “outlet in a closet” saga. Found this below a bathroom sink. Just the fact that the box was open to the underside of the cabinet due to the hole in the wall gave me pause.
Would this be considered at all hazardous?
Should the receptacle be changed to a GFCI?
Should the hole just be closed up?
Should I just go have a beer and forget about it?
OMG DANGER DANGER Will Robertson ahhhhh just kidding;-)
jmyers1
(Joe Myers)
July 15, 2012, 11:56pm
9
IMHO, electric and water should not be sharing the same space. If I am not mistaken, there is something in the electric or mechanical code that states there is a minimum distance between electric and other utilities.
rmeier2
(Robert Meier)
July 15, 2012, 11:57pm
10
I agree. NM cable is permitted to be exposed when not subject to physical damage.
tpappas
(Troy N. Pappas)
July 16, 2012, 12:21am
11
jmyers1:
IMHO, electric and water should not be sharing the same space. If I am not mistaken, there is something in the electric or mechanical code that states there is a minimum distance between electric and other utilities.
I don’t believe there is for this application.
jkeilson
(James Keilson, CMI, Certified Master Inspector)
July 16, 2012, 12:38am
12
jmyers1:
IMHO, electric and water should not be sharing the same space. If I am not mistaken, there is something in the electric or mechanical code that states there is a minimum distance between electric and other utilities.
That does not apply to this situation. In this picture the only concern and fix to this is to patch the darn hole and issue goes away.
Jim
ccurrins
(Christopher Currins, CMI)
July 16, 2012, 12:52am
13
My mistake, I thought it was a photo of a closet.
canderson5
(Cameron Anderson)
July 16, 2012, 12:52am
14
That’s the main question I had, if this box can be exposed to the underside of the sink cabinet.
dedwards
(Doug Edwards)
July 16, 2012, 12:57am
15
There are electrical boxes under almost every kitchen sink in North America. Often tucked in between water sources. Non issue.
I agree…fix the hole.
jpope
(Jeffrey Pope, CMI, CHI, CPI, ICC)
July 16, 2012, 1:50am
16
Most utilities can share the same space. There are no separation requirements except for things like working space around equipment, communication lines clearances from service drops, etc.
Generally speaking, electrical components and plumbing components can be in direct contact with eachother.
gwells
(George Wells, CMI)
July 16, 2012, 2:46am
17
canderson5:
…after the whole “outlet in a closet” saga. Found this below a bathroom sink. Just the fact that the box was open to the underside of the cabinet due to the hole in the wall gave me pause.
Would this be considered at all hazardous?
Should the receptacle be changed to a GFCI?
Should the hole just be closed up?
Should I just go have a beer and forget about it?
Go have a beer. Better still, brandy!
jgromkoski
(John Gromkoski, License No. 16000020183)
July 16, 2012, 2:54am
18
Do we need to re define a cabinet and a closet?
ccurrins
(Christopher Currins, CMI)
July 16, 2012, 3:16am
19
Canadian or American version?
sstanczyk
(Stephen Stanczyk, WA License #221)
July 16, 2012, 3:20am
20
Shouldn’t it be clouset ?