Then don’t !
Right back atcha. 
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I think you’re wrong. ASHI just requires inspection of conductors(6) and is open to interpretation. Maryland SOP appears to be more specific in regards to how branch circuit conductors(10) are used and installed with electrical devices, which would include OCPD, and if the installation is safe.
What Kevin said, and don’t over think it, move on. time is money!
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Could they write it in language that is anymore ambiguous? In Bob’s defense what you’ve quoted is so wishy-washy that it can mean just about anything. The NJ SOP got it right by spelling it out in a language that requires no interpretation.
NJ:
i) When inspecting the electrical system, a home inspector shall: Inspect: v) Over-current protection devices and the compatibility of their ampacity with that of the connected wiring
Okay, in Bob’s defense, NJ is more specific than MD. I just hope he didn’t spend his entire career not checking compatibility because it wasn’t clear enough. It still doesn’t change the fact that ASHI SOP and Maryland SOP aren’t identical.
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IMO if you’re going to remove the panel cover then you should check the conductor size and the circuit breaker size whether it’s required or not. I’m wondering why this isn’t clearly spelled out in every SOP. It could be very important.
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Morning, Adam.
Does the panel board manufacture recommend this breaker?
I think the term defective is the wrong verbiage.
I would say/note in my report, there is a Deficiency of/in the OCPD ampacity labeling.
Deficiency; a lack or shortage (to the OCPD labeling.)
It would fall under Limitations I believe.
Observation: Breaker or OCPD in slot/s 6 and 7, on the right hand side of the panel board, has a labeling Deficiency. Unknow ampacity.
Limitations: Unable to determine.
Recommend a licensed electrician, or electrical contractor, depending where you live, label the OCPD properly, or replace the OCPD if deficient for overload protection.
Act upon any recommendations therein.
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The manufacturer does not recommend installation of an unlabeled breaker.
This is the language that I put in the report under the black section (NOT A DEFECT) on circuit breakers:
[[Undetermined Ampacity Rating]]Two of the circuit breakers in the panel enclosure were missing an ampacity rating label. A qualified licensed electrical contractor should evaluate them further to determine if the branch circuit wiring attached to them were adequately sized to meet the needs of the fixtures that were potentially fed by those circuits.
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I questions about a possible scenarios to anyone willing to take a stab.
The CB rating was not visible vs. not present. Could the CB be a safety switch and offer no over current protection? Could over current protection be supplied at the appliance only (water heater)? Is a safety switch (with no over current protection) acceptable in the panel?
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Hi, Adam.
I think you misunderstood the meaning or intent of the subject, or I did not explain it well, which is likely the case.
Let me start over. Each panel board manufacturer, Eaton, Schneider Eclectic, GE, Cutter Hamer, etc… adds a label inside the panel that determines the kind of breaker box you have. The label will include safety deterrents, model type, and suggested/recommended breaker types.
These are the only relevant pics that I have to your question. Even with this information, we still don’t know who manufactured the unlabeled breakers. They look like GE breakers.
I agree, they appear to be GE but the amp rating is missing, at least from what is visible in the photo. The breaker would need to be removed to see if it has any other markings that may indicate the current rating.
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Adam, can you clean up the images? I feel you are missing a portion of the panel legend.
I can not make out the Cat No or Catalog Number.
But with GE electrical panels, on the legend you typically see, “Use only GE type breakers.”
From memory, I have seen GE over current equipment or breakers like that without ampacity rating on the ON/OFF handle/toggle/operator on more than one occasion. It surely resembles a GE breaker.
No. However, I can read enough of the Cat. No. legend to see that it says, “Use only with GE Type THQP, TCP-TQL…”
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