I enjoy working in the field. Providing construction oversight services for my clients gives me the opportunity to see the results of our designs and evaluate whether the contractors clearly understood our specifications. At other times, I assist the owner as a liaison between the contractors and the code enforcement officials during the final approval stages of a project.

During one of the projects where I acted as a liaison and assisted the owners in trying to open their building on time, I had the opportunity to work with a relatively large electrical contractor. This large project required the electrical contractor to provide a project supervisor and two project foremen, as well as a “special” foreman for the fire alarm system installation.

Recently, while walking with the electrical inspector and the two electrical foremen as we inspected the fire alarm system, I listened in on the inspector’s comments regarding other electrical issues. The inspector had graciously agreed to provide a courtesy pre-inspection to give the foremen a heads-up on what he saw as code violations. The inspector’s diligence impressed me. He tried to look at everything and offer comments that would hopefully make the final electrical inspection run smoothly when he made the “official” visit. To put this in perspective, in addition to inspecting each floor of the buildings, we crawled around a series of attics that connected four large buildings. It was the middle of summer and the temperature hovered at 110°F!

I took notes on some of the issues the inspector brought up and reported these to the owner, because the issues could prevent the buildings from opening as planned.

After the job meeting the next morning with the general contractor and the owner where we discussed these show-stopping issues, the owner asked me to meet with the electrical contractor project supervisor.

The first words out of his mouth were, “You know we are really having a tough time meeting the project schedule because they changed inspectors on us!” I asked how that could possibly impact the schedule, to which he replied, “You know once you get used to an inspector and what he’s looking for, you just make sure you take care of those issues. This new inspector is finding violations the other inspector never discussed!” I responded that his observation may be true, but to the best of my knowledge, the National Electrical Code hadn’t changed, so what was his point?

It seems true that the previous electrical inspector had overlooked the code issues found by the “new” inspector. But that does not exonerate the contractor from code compliance. (Although this contractor seemed to insinuate that it should.)

Some of the code issues pointed out to the electrical foremen included the following: 

1. Fire alarm system junction boxes not identified. NEC Article 760-30 Fire Alarm Circuit Identification. Fire alarm circuits shall be identified at terminal and junction locations, in a manner that will prevent unintentional interference with the signaling circuit during testing and servicing.
2. Communications and CATV cables tie-wrapped to electrical raceways. NEC Article 800-133(b) Support of Conductors. Raceways shall be used for their intended purpose. Communications cables or wires shall not be strapped, taped or attached by any means to the exterior of any conduit or raceway as a means of support.
3. Electrical wiring draped over the automatic sprinkler piping. NFPA 13-2013 Section 9.1.1.8.1* Sprinkler piping or hangers shall not be used to support nonsystem components.
4. Electrical MC cables attached to the suspended ceiling suspension system. NEC Article 300-11(1). Wiring located within the cavity of a fire-rated floor—ceiling or roof—ceiling assembly shall not be secured to, or supported by, the ceiling assembly, including the ceiling support wires. An independent means of secure support shall be provided. Where independent support wires are used, they shall be distinguishable by color, tagging or other effective means from those that are part of the fire-rated design.
5. Cables and raceways not supported in accordance with the NEC. NEC Article 300-11. Securing and Supporting. (a) Secured in Place. Raceways, cable assemblies, boxes, cabinets, and fittings shall be securely fastened in place. Support wires that do not provide secure support shall not be permitted as the sole support. Support wires and associated fittings that provide secure support and that are installed in addition to the ceiling grid support wires, shall be permitted as the sole support. Where independent support wires are used, they shall be secured at both ends. Cables and raceways shall not be supported by ceiling grids.
6. Electrical panels inaccessible. NEC Article 110-26 Spaces About Electrical Equipment. Sufficient access and working space shall be provided and maintained about all electric equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment. Enclosures housing electrical apparatus that are controlled by lock and key shall be considered accessible to qualified persons.
7. Electrical raceways penetrated rated shaft enclosures. International Building Code (IBC)-2009 (in force in this jurisdiction) Section 708.7.1. “Openings other than those necessary for the purpose of the shaft shall not be permitted in shaft enclosures.”
8. Conductors over filled some raceways. NEC Article 300-17. Number and Size of Conductors in Raceway. The number and size of conductors in any raceway shall not be more than will permit dissipation of the heat and ready installation or withdrawal of the conductors without damage to the conductors or to their insulation.
9. Junction box and terminal cabinet covers missing. NEC Article 110-31(D). Where nonmetallic or metal-enclosed equipment is accessible to the general public and the bottom of the enclosure is less than 8 feet (2.44 m) above the floor or grade level, the enclosure door or hinged cover shall be kept locked. Doors and covers of enclosures used solely as pull boxes, splice boxes or junction boxes shall be locked, bolted or screwed on.
10. Holes made for electrical raceways not properly fire stopped with penetration seals. NEC Article 300-21 Spread of Fire or Products of Combustion. Electrical installations in hollow spaces, vertical shafts, and ventilation or air-handling ducts shall be made so that the possible spread of fire or products of combustion will not be substantially increased. Openings around electrical penetrations through fire-resistant-rated walls, partitions, floors or ceilings shall be firestopped using approved methods to maintain the fire resistance rating.
    

In addition to the supervisor’s concern over dealing with a new inspector, he felt that I had misrepresented the results of the walkthrough to the owner and general contractor at our earlier meeting. His foremen had told him the inspector found a couple of items, but “nothing serious.” He wanted to know my take on the meeting. I offered a straightforward reply. His foremen had failed to take one note while the inspector walked them through the code violations. I admitted that even I did not have a complete list. I had only recorded the items that seemed important to me. He replied, “Starting today, they will take notes!” (A little late considering the project was 80% completed.)

And the moral of my little story? Simply put, the inspector does not have the responsibility to develop a contractor’s “punch list” of code violations. The contractor has the responsibility to both know and follow the codes in force at the time of his or her installation. Regardless of who inspects, the installation should comply with the applicable codes. Someone with a journeyman or master electrical license should certainly know what does and does not comply with the code.

And finally, when an inspector offers help, for goodness’ sake, take notes!