Did a house yesterday that had the white texture paint (for ceiling, popcorn) on the inside of the panel. The only wires that were painted, or had specks of paint were the service wires. What is the danger here?
Thanks
110.11 Deteriorating Agents
Unless identified for use in the operating environment, no conductors or equipment shall be located in damp or wet locations; where exposed to gases, fumes, vapors, liquids, or other agents that have a deteriorating effect on the conductors or equipment; or where exposed to excessive temperatures.
FPN No. 1: See 300.6 for protection against corrosion.
FPN No. 2: Some cleaning and lubricating compounds can cause severe deterioration of many plastic materials used for insulating and structural applications in equipment.
Equipment identified only as dry locations,''Type 1,’’ or ``indoor use only’’ shall be protected against permanent damage from the weather during building construction.
110.12 Mechanical Execution of Work
Electrical equipment shall be installed in a neat and workmanlike manner.
FPN: Accepted industry practices are described in ANSI/NECA 1-2000, Standard Practices for Good Workmanship in Electrical Contracting, and other ANSI-approved installation standards.
The regulation in 110.12 calling for neat and workmanlike'' installations has appeared in the NEC as currently worded for more than a half-century. It stands as a basis for pride in one's work and has been emphasized by persons involved in the training of apprentice electricians for many years. Many Code conflicts or violations have been cited by the authority having jurisdiction based on the authority's interpretation ofneat and workmanlike manner.’’ Many electrical inspection authorities use their own experience or precedents in their local areas as the basis for their judgments.
Examples of installations that do not qualify as neat and workmanlike'' include exposed runs of cables or raceways that are improperly supported (e.g., sagging between supports or use of improper support methods); field-bent and kinked, flattened, or poorly measured raceways; or cabinets, cutout boxes, and enclosures that are not plumb or not properly secured. The FPN, new for the 2005 Code, directs the user to an industry accepted ANSI standard that clearly describes and illustratesneat and workmanlike’’ electrical installations. See Exhibit 110.2.
Exhibit 110.2 ANSI/NECA 1-2000, Standard Practice for Good Workmanship in Electrical Contracting, one example of the many ANSI standards that describe ``neat and workmanlike’’ installations.
(A) Unused Openings Unused cable or raceway openings in boxes, raceways, auxiliary gutters, cabinets, cutout boxes, meter socket enclosures, equipment cases, or housings shall be effectively closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment. Where metallic plugs or plates are used with nonmetallic enclosures, they shall be recessed at least 6 mm ( 1/ 4 in.) from the outer surface of the enclosure.
The phrase unused cable or raceway openings clarifies that openings used for normal operation, such as weep holes, are not required to be closed up.
See 408.7 for requirements on unused openings in switchboard and panelboard enclosures.
(B) Subsurface Enclosures Conductors shall be racked to provide ready and safe access in underground and subsurface enclosures into which persons enter for installation and maintenance.
© Integrity of Electrical Equipment and Connections Internal parts of electrical equipment, including busbars, wiring terminals, insulators, and other surfaces, shall not be damaged or contaminated by foreign materials such as paint, plaster, cleaners, abrasives, or corrosive residues. There shall be no damaged parts that may adversely affect safe operation or mechanical strength of the equipment such as parts that are broken; bent; cut; or deteriorated by corrosion, chemical action, or overheating.