The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has identified common corrections required by electrical inspectors. It reported that out of the 185,878 inspections made for electrical contractors last year 18% required corrections and re-inspections and, in its own words, “remarkably” 20% of all electrical contractors were responsible for 80% of the work requiring correction and re-inspection. L&I also cautioned that Section 1928.361 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW 19.28.361) makes the installer – contractor and electrician – personally responsible and liable for any injury or damage to a person or property for any defect in the electrical installation.
L&I identified the follow reasons for correction notices:
- Failure to follow manufacturer’s instructions (NEC® 110.3(B))
- Missing or inoperable ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection or the GFCI is located in a non-readily accessible location (NEC® 210.8)
- Blank panel schedule or failure to update existing panel schedule with new circuit information (NEC® 408.4(A))
- No Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) protection in required areas (NEC® 210.12)
- No label on the service equipment in other than dwelling units with the maximum available fault current including the date the fault-current calculation was performed (NEC® 110.24(A))
- Failure to seal unused openings in enclosures (NEC® 110.12(A))
- Failure to install a concrete-encased electrode as required for new buildings or structures built on a permanent concrete foundation (WAC 296-46B-250(2))
Additional Source: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Electrical Currents, Vol. 19, No. 10 (Oct. 2015)