314.29 (Accessible Boxes, Conduit Bodies, Etc)

Magnettica

How important is this code to you guys? Pretty important I suppose. I'm on a job without permits and I'm pretty ticked-off right about now. First I'm told that a closet and a bathroom will both have suspended ceilings. So I designed my old circuits (the ones that needed to be spliced and saved) to both of those areas so I could access them there since the rest of renovation was to have sheetrock on the ceiling. There is no basement.

Anyway - and I am just venting so bear with me - this afternoon I'm told that the bathroom is not getting the suspended ceiling. Huh!? Not to mention add this, add that, move this, move that, and "are you coming back tomorrow" or "when do you think you'll be done?" This isn't the easiest building to work in (doctors office) and running new homeruns that are now needed won't be an easy task. Add to the fact that the builder/ plumber/ HVAC/ designer/ installer barely speaks english, I've just about had it. The other day while soldering copper supply lines he nearly burnt a clear hole right through waste water pvc pipe. Plus he also didn't use treated lumber as a floor plate on a concrete floor. Why am I working here and who did I piss off to get this job?

So it looks like there'll be an 8x8x4 (perhaps several) flush with the ceiling in a public bathroom space. Nice, huh?

__________________
Electrician service in Rahway, Cranford, Clark, Westfield, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Roselle, Roselle Park, and New Jersey | Same day electrical service and repairs | Licensed and Insured Electrician in Rahway

mdshunk

I know what you mean.

That's when the fact that you're paid by the hour helps out some. You can even slow down your miles per hour in protest.

InPhase277

Charge, charge, and recharge. Move it all, and rip them a new one.

InPhase277

Celtic

Sorry...but you have 0 valid arguments.

__________________

mdshunk

He does if this is the situation his boss put him in.

Celtic

Why?

It's par for the course and to be expected.

__________________

mdshunk

It is, but it's often hard to pretend like it's okay with you.

I get mixed up in these things all the time too, and I guess I'm used to it for the most part. I'm not really sure I hold it against a guy, who otherwise tries to do the right thing himself, who gets grumpy on jobs like this. In the end, what a fellow has to realize is that there isn't much you can do to change the situation other than give it your best shot and move on to the next one.

I see to recall Mag saying in an earlier thread that it seems like he's going to get all these special challenges, so I guess that's coming true. He'll be the most well rounded, seen and done it all, electrician in NJ after a few years of these.

Celtic

There is nothing wrong with a good challenge...keeps the mind focused and not wandering.
What is the challenge in taking out a permit?
I know it's not mag's fault and he was simply given a ladle and told to enjoy the honey-pot's bounty...but WTF?

If the customer wants a half baked job and the EC is willing to encourage that ideology...as a worker give them what they want..there is no point in doing a bang-up primo job here. Slam-jam-and-scram....wham-bam-thank you ma'am.

__________________

mdshunk

I guess that's sorta what I was getting at. Either milk the clock or do "whatever" and move on. I don't think Mag's personality would let him do something sub-par, since he's pretty broke up about having 8x8 flush cover boxes in the bathrooms. I know I shure couldn't bring myself to do that. I might be guilty of dragging my feet in the past on crap work, though.

Celtic

I'm not suggesting he do anything sub-par....we all know on some jobs you go above and beyond...this job here ~ as long as it works and poses no electrical hazards it's "good enough".

I kind of hope mag drops an address on me here - so I can AVOID doing any business with the cheapskates over there when the project is complete.

__________________

mdshunk

That's the every day struggle.

TimelessQuality

Is that a buried Jbox? 8"x8"?? Sorry for the stupid question...

Mag...I can't believe a doctor would hire a GC that operates that way...Is it a 'brother in law' job??

git'r done, git paid, and git out!!

__________________
-Steve

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science." ~ Albert Einstein

Thomp

Add to the fact that the builder/ plumber/ HVAC/ designer/ installer barely speaks english

We get alot of that here in the southwest. Mag, hang in there and charge, charge, charge

woodchuck2

Code is important to me whether the job has permits or not. Its your neck on the line whether you work for someone or yourself. Personally i would charge for every change made and if they are going to seal off access to a JB in the ceiling then an alternative is to mount a ceiling light or light/fan combo and use that as the JB. You could also mount a JB in the wall and tell them to put a pic or a mirror over it for concealment but this looks like crap. Stick to your guns on this, if these bozo's do something that may lead to an investigation down the road you will want your butt covered. I also like to have my jobs inspected by an independent inspector, especially if i feel there may be a problem down the road.

wireless

Why not? Are Doctors not human?

Celtic

Not a stoopid question...probably a box sitting on/partial recessed into the rock....

...just a stoopid layout that mag now has to deal with , the custmer has to look at, while the paying guest says "Isn't that attractive, I want one just like that in my home/place of business!" ...thinking that the guy who put it in couldn't find the light switch in a brightly lit room (...and it's still not mag's fault)

__________________

Magnettica

Most of you have hit the nail on the head. I work for someone (I'm an employee), and this job is all time and material. There is no way I am dropping any names, customer or the business I am employed by. The fact that I have deal with morons like this more and more everyday is what is most troubling. This guy has no idea about any of the codes that needed to be addressed prior to starting the electrical end of the work. None.

Like most people here, doing work to code is important to me. Not to mention that God forbid there was ever a fire the first question would be who did the work? The second question would be which technician did the work? The 2nd answer would be 'me' and that's why doing things the right way the first time is very, very important to me. I don't give a damn that I'm just employee because ultimately I'm the one who did the work. 20 years from now, long after the price of the job has been forgotten, customers remember who did the work, and my name and reputation is much more important than the amount paid.

I got a break from that job today but I'm going back tomorrow to finish up. I hope all the sheetrock wasn't hung today otherwise I'll be bustin' it all up to do what I got to do. Thanks for listening.

__________________
Electrician service in Rahway, Cranford, Clark, Westfield, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Roselle, Roselle Park, and New Jersey | Same day electrical service and repairs | Licensed and Insured Electrician in Rahway

Magnettica

That's probably the plan for tomorrow, to milk the clock.

I have a feeling everyone in the company does it but me.

__________________
Electrician service in Rahway, Cranford, Clark, Westfield, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Roselle, Roselle Park, and New Jersey | Same day electrical service and repairs | Licensed and Insured Electrician in Rahway

Magnettica

Yes, It's a 8x8x4 pull box being used as junction to feed existing receptacles. Instead of fishing down finished walls, these tails go to the j-box instead. The size of the box just gives me more cubic inches to cram more wires into. Is it overkill? Probably.

This GC, I found out today, gets paid $600 per day for him and his helper. That's cash money and none of it goes to Uncle Sam. Plus, if either of them gets hurt on the job you and I and our tax dollars will cover them, both.

Nice, huh?

__________________
Electrician service in Rahway, Cranford, Clark, Westfield, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Roselle, Roselle Park, and New Jersey | Same day electrical service and repairs | Licensed and Insured Electrician in Rahway

220/221

Change the 8x8 to a couple/three 4s w/2g mud rings and blank them off.

It'll look a lot better.

__________________
Just because it's within code doesn't make it safe.

Just because it's against code doesn't make it unsafe.