Originally Posted By: senomoto
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Originally Posted By: rcooke
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| senomoto wrote: |
| I saw this the other day on an FPE panel. The Electrician tapped through the electrical cover to add wiring for ceiling fan and range hood.
How would I word this in my report?  Mahalo for your help Steve [ Image: http://www.nachi.org/bbsystem/usrimages/P/P5190046.JPG ] |
Incorrect insulation further evaluation by qualified person .
The Person ??? did not wish to punch a hole in the plaster that required fixing I would be disappointed to think a Sparky did this .
Roy C a retired electrician. Royshominspection.com
Originally Posted By: rmoore
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You might try something along the lines of…
I've got bad news and good news. The bad news is that the installation of conductors through the deadfront cover does not allow safe removal of that cover for inspection or service. The good news is that your panel is an obsolete piece of s**t that needs to be replaced anyway.
You might want to word it a little differently. 
--
Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
www.rainspect.com
Originally Posted By: lkage
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The good and the bad…I like that.
–
“I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn’t learn something from him.”
Galileo Galilei
Originally Posted By: rbennett
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Looks like the experts are taking the day off.
In reality this is not as bad as it looks
The electrician that did this should be given an award for "field engineering" and then strip him of his title of electrician.
Safety issue
The cover plate (dead panel) has been modified as to present a hazard to service personnel. It is recommenced this issue be evaluated by a professional and corrective action taken as indicated.
When we come across issuers that could hurt someone ($$ or body) we must report without seeming to cover up or alarm. This is where the professionalism comes in.
Regards
RLB
Originally Posted By: jpope
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| rbennett wrote: |
| In reality this is not as bad as it looks |
No, it's worse.
Removing covers from Stab-Lok panel boards is hazardous enough. The only "saving grace" in this situation is that this is an exterior mounted cover rather than one that could easily come in contact with the bus bars or service feed.
It's not like you can safely set the cover aside while checking the wiring.
--
Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
"At JPI, we'll help you look better"
(661) 212-0738
Originally Posted By: rmoore
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| rbennett wrote: |
|
The cover plate (dead panel) has been modified as to present a hazard to service personnel. It is recommenced this issue be evaluated by a professional and corrective action taken as indicated. When we come across issuers that could hurt someone ($$ or body) we must report without seeming to cover up or alarm. |
I may have been a bit flippant before, but I was deadly serious about the safety issue. With the risk of sounding a bit like Mr Peck...this does not need to be evaluated...it needs to be repaired. There is absolutely no doubt this is wrong...make that very wrong. Without being able to see inside the cover, you have no idea what you would be tugging on if (big if) you tried to remove the cover. And as soon as you remove the screws you probably also lose the bonding.
Sorry Richard, but as a "professional" I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't "alarm" my client a bit about this panel. It's one of the most potentially dangerous things I've seen. Whoever did it should have his wire-nuts forcibly removed.
--
Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
www.rainspect.com
Originally Posted By: hgordon
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Unsafe condition at main load center located in the __________________. Amateur retrofit of the dead-front panel has created an UNSAFE CONDITION that requires IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. Please note that due to this UNSAFE CONDITION, this inspector was not able to SAFELY remove the dead-front cover. Have a Licensed Electrician correct this condition.
? MAJOR CONCERN: A Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) ?Stab-Lok? main load center panel was present. FPE circuit breakers may fail to trip in response to an overcurrent or a short circuit. A circuit breaker that ?may not trip? does not afford the protection that is intended and required, creating a fire hazard. Simply replacing the circuit breakers might not be a reliable repair.
The common ?defense? for these electric panels is that ?it?s always been there and hasn?t caused any problems.? Electric panels in and of themselves typically do not ?cause any problems.? It is the electric components or appliances that typically cause problems, e.g., a short in an appliance, an electric outlet, or a light switch. Electric panels and circuit breakers are designed to prevent personal injury and property damage in the event of a short (or other problem) by shutting down the electric current to the faulty appliances or electrical components. The fact that there ?have not been any problems? simply means that the electric wiring, switches, and outlets; and the appliances using the wiring, switches, and outlets, have not had any problems. Recommend further evaluation and certification of safeness by a licensed electrician.
Mahalo back at ya Stephen!
--
Harvey Gordon
SE Florida NACHI Chapter - President
hgordon@fl.nachi.org
Originally Posted By: jmyers
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Richard,
I liked the first narative better! 
--
Joe Myers
A & N Inspections, Inc.
http://anii.biz
Originally Posted By: rbennett
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STEPHEN
Looks like you got some good responses to your post
Hope we all were able to help -- As you can see we look at things a little differently - Some of us have presented our responders with very short and profane words and some of us have composed a page or two - Bottom line you were the expert here - you knew that it was wrong when you spotted the issue and that is what makes you a good HI -you also knew how to get the answer to your question on presentation -- come to nachi
Best regards
RLB
Originally Posted By: hgordon
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Well said Richard!
–
Harvey Gordon
SE Florida NACHI Chapter - President
hgordon@fl.nachi.org
Originally Posted By: senomoto
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Aloha Gentleman.
Mahalo for all of the great responces. Of course I indicated the issue as a major safety problem and told the owner that they needed to have a qualified electrical contractor replace and correct ASAP.
Since I am still on the new side of reporting I ask for a bit of guidance from the best out there and that is from my NACHI brothers and I thank you.
Mahalo again for the help.
Steve.