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Thursday, February 17, 2022
Question:
Good Morning,
With regard to the question of Friday, January 14, 2022, answered on January 17, 2022: The submitter asks whether he or the inspector is correct regarding the proper size of an EGC for a pool pump motor. I have seen the same sort of question more than once. The question that comes up for me is this: Why are they asking who is right? The inspector's field report should have clearly indicated the violation of 680.21(A)(1) for the electrician to view, right? Or did the inspector WRITE a field report and cite the code? If the submitter has to ask CQD, my guess is NO. I became IAEI certified in 1987 and did code enforcement in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin for over ten years. I wouldn't dream of conducting an inspection without writing a field report, and if there were violations, citing them chapter and verse. In teaching apprentices and journeymen for the last 20 years I can tell you that there are still more than a few inspectors out there that do not write reports or fail to cite the code if they do write one. An inspector is a law enforcement officer. All of the local codes that I have looked at state that if there is a violation of a city code or ordinance, the violator shall be notified IN WRITING and the specific violation cited. Make no mistake...the electrician is responsible for knowing the rules...that's what I teach...AND.... the inspector also has to know his or her job, too. I would like to hear your opinion on this matter, as around my neck of the woods it happens a lot. Thank you for the valuable contribution to all of us out here in the trenches!
Ron Robertson MKD Electric Elgin, Illinois
A
Answer:
Hello Ron,
Your point is spot on. If an inspector is going to make a call on a violation, it should always be in writing with the applicable Code sections. That approach provides the best service for the customer and is defendable. Thanks for participating and for the comment.