HOUSE CONSISTENCY MEETING
DEPARTMENTAL GOALS:
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Date: 3-11-15
85 - 90 % 1 DAY TURN AROUND
80 - 85 % CONTRACTOR PASS RATE
QUALITY INSPECTIONS!
EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE!
SAFETY ISSUES:
REMEMBER COUNTY CELL PHONE POLICY, USE ALL APPROVED SAFETY
EQUIPMENT ISSUED TO YOU. (I.e. HARDHAT, SAFETY GLASSES, SAFETY SHOES,
PPE)
Q: WHY ARE WE HERE? A: TO SERVE THE CUSTOMER
1) I was turned down for not meeting the requirements of 200.6 and 210.5 as it pertains to branch
circuits in multiple system voltages wired with MC cables. I used black, red, blue and white conductors
throughout. What am I required to do? - CHRIS
200.6 requires grounded conductor identification, in D systems are required to be identified by system,
and in E required colors are listed. 210.5 C tells us how to identify the ungrounded conductors.
2) I used a 15 amp duplex receptacle for connection to a disposal and a dishwasher, breaking the tabs on
the device and installing them on a 2 pole 20 amp OCD. The inspector says I can’t do this. Why? – BOB
210.21 B 1, a single receptacle must be rated for circuit
3) I installed a 120/240 1phase 30 amp receptacle for floor sanders on a temporary power pole and did
not protect it with a GFCI or an assured equipment grounding program. The inspector told me to
disconnect it. Why per the code? - DEBRA
590.6 B requires GFCI or an assured equipment grounding program
4) A mechanical contractor start up tech wants to install a 120 volt to 24 volt transformer inside the gas
furnace to supply 24 volts to zone dampers, by intersecting 120 volts off the control circuit board switch.
Does this fall under the electrical contractor’s scope or should the mechanical contractor have an
electrical permit? - GERALD
a) Will this violate listing? b) If allowed by listing and interior to the unit a mechanical contractor can
perform the work c) if exterior to the unit an electrical license is required
5) I just received a call from a contractor asking if Service Equipment could be mounted onto the mobile
home. In Article 550.32 it states that it is not allowed to be attached to the mobile home. He said some
Inspectors have told him yes and some have said no. What should be done? – Matt
This is regulated in NC through the Regulations for Manufactured Homes. Mobile homes generally are
units manufactured prior to June 15, 1976 when HUD took over the regulations on a national basis. In
1982 HUD officially changed the Mobile Home units name to Manufactured Homes. In 1987 NC
followed HUD in the naming change. Currently service attachment has been allowed either on or off the
unit in keeping with NEC 550.32 using either A or B.
6) I have a tenant up fit on a strip mall, I am coming out of an existing trough that has a 1200 amp fused
disconnect ahead of it. I installed a meter, a 200 amp fused disconnect and (4) - 3/0 cu. with a # 6 cu.
ground as the approved plans show. The inspector turned me down for incorrect sized EGC. She stated it
needed to be a 3/0 cu. from the trough to the fused disconnect. Is she correct? - JOHN
See NEC 250 122(G) and Table 250.122
Is this new 200 amp tenant meter and disconnect still Service or does it become load side tenant
metering?
The main belongs to the tenant so it is load side tenant metering.
Feeding into the trough, the neutral (grounded) conductor is floating, and the EGC is bonded to
the trough with a (green) (3/0) cu.
My meter does not have an isolated Neutral Lug. Do I connect the neutral (grounded) conductor
to the lugs and run the EGC (green) straight thru the meter enclosure to the 200 amp
disconnect?
Yes, and the raceway must be PVC so as not to create a parallel fault current path. See 250.142
B excp. 2. EGC must be sized per NEC 250.122 G.
If so, the meter is bonded, Do I still need 3/0 for the EGC to the disconnect?
Yes per 250.148.
7) An inspector failed a LV contractor for not having a grommet in a 2" hole where wires were passing
thru. The issue was failure to protect cables. The contractor was not pleased and insisted the opening
was not subjecting the cable to damage. He stated he had been doing this for 30 years and all over the
world (and on two other planets). He had NEVER been turned down for this before. So, the question is
when are grommets required for LV wires entering into LV panels? – Gerald
800.24 provides for protection stating cables to be installed in a manner so as not to damage them.
8) I installed a surface mounted LED light in a clothes closet. It was 10 inches from the shelf. The
inspector turned me down. I thought LED fixtures had the same clearances as fluorescents. - Chris
410.16 C – 12 in. are required
9) Can I run low volt communication cables and NM cables through the same bored holes? Some
inspectors say yes and some say no. - BOB
800.133 A 2 excp. 2 allows this
10) Are the 120 volt interconnected smoke detectors required in a single family dwelling if they installing
a low voltage fire alarm system? – Debra
NC Residential Code R 3.14 states that a system meeting the requirements of NFPA 72, having smoke
alarms, belonging to the owner, and monitored by an approved supervising station shall be allowed.
11) The other day during a final fire alarm final inspection, I ran into a dish TV installation at an upfit that
wasn't permitted. After further investigation there was a cable box plugged in below the ceiling to an
outlet at a column and the cable box and remote was above the plenum rated ceiling with no support
for the equipment. The cable was lying on a ceiling not supported. The property management company
hired the provider. Please have the consistency team clarify this for the entire inspection team. - JOHN
Is Dish TV or others companies like them exempt from inspections inside buildings, homes, etc.
in North Carolina?
This has to be qualified with the provider. Per NC General Statutes the provider is exempted to
the point of demarcation. If we have no information from the provider we regulate the
installation per NEC.
12) As inspectors when we find existing defects or work done previously without permits, who is
responsible and how do we address this. -David
Existing defects are the responsibility of the owner per NC General Statutes. We need to create a RQ for
the violation and if the owner is not responsive we next issue a NOV. If the existing violation is an
imminent threat the NOV should be issued immediately. Remember to follow your SOP. If the permitted
work is affected by the existing violation we should note defects by others and note what is wrong.
13) I'm installing a circuit for a fire alarm system at my residence in a closet. I'm running M/C to this. Do I
have to put this circuit on AFCI? -Matt
210.12 A excp. 3 - no for hardwired system.
14) I need to know where to terminate the building steel bond and the water pipe bond. I was told by
one inspector that I could only terminate at the CT Can and another inspector told me to terminate at
the main disconnect. – David
250.24 provides the requirements for grounding the system. Either could work if properly installed.
15) Are boxes required to be mounted in ceiling for Fire Alarm above ceiling inspections or can a drop be
rolled up and hanging at device location? – Gerald
All boxes should be installed for an above ceiling inspection.
16) I was turned down for needing a TP receptacle in a cabinet for a LV system cabinet. I say 406.12
does not require this in the cabinet. What is the correct way to handle this. - David
406.12 refers to those receptacles required by 210.52. This receptacle is not one of those and therefore
needs no TP rating.