CEI Safety & Compliance Regulations 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A photovoltaic system inspection reveals that the DC combiner box is not labeled with the required maximum voltage. Which NEC article requires voltage labeling on PV system equipment?
- Article 690 (Correct answer)
- Article 705
- Article 480
- Article 445
Correct answer: Article 690
NEC Article 690 (Solar Photovoltaic Systems) requires that PV systems be marked with maximum system voltage, maximum circuit current, and other safety information at key locations.
Question 2: Which OSHA standard requires employers to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at no cost to employees working on or near exposed energized electrical parts?
- 29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(i) (Correct answer)
- 29 CFR 1926.416
- 29 CFR 1910.147(c)
- 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)
Correct answer: 29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(i)
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(i) requires that employees working in areas where there are potential electrical hazards be provided with electrical protective equipment appropriate for the specific parts of the body exposed.
Question 3: During inspection of a motor control center (MCC), the inspector finds that the equipment grounding conductors are aluminum. The conductors are in contact with masonry surfaces inside the enclosure. What NEC concern applies?
- NEC 250.120(C) prohibits aluminum EGC contact with masonry or earth without protection against corrosion (Correct answer)
- Aluminum EGCs are prohibited in all MCC applications under NEC Article 430
- No NEC restriction applies to aluminum EGCs inside enclosures
- Only the size of the EGC matters, not the material or installation method
Correct answer: NEC 250.120(C) prohibits aluminum EGC contact with masonry or earth without protection against corrosion
NEC 250.120(C) requires that aluminum or copper-clad aluminum equipment grounding conductors not be used in direct contact with masonry or earth or where subject to corrosive conditions.
Question 4: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), electrical receptacle outlets and controls must be mounted within which height range to be accessible to individuals in wheelchairs?
- 15 to 48 inches above the finished floor for forward reach, or 9 to 54 inches for side reach (Correct answer)
- 18 to 60 inches above finished floor regardless of reach direction
- 12 to 44 inches for all outlet types
- No ADA height requirement applies to electrical outlets in private residences
Correct answer: 15 to 48 inches above the finished floor for forward reach, or 9 to 54 inches for side reach
ADA Standards for Accessible Design require operable parts to be within reach ranges: 15–48 inches for forward reach and 9–54 inches for side reach above finished floor.
Question 5: A CEI inspector notes that surge protective devices (SPDs) are not installed on the service entrance panel of a newly constructed dwelling unit. As of the 2020 NEC, is this a violation?
- Yes — NEC 230.67 requires SPDs on all services supplying dwelling units starting with the 2020 NEC (Correct answer)
- No — SPDs are only required on commercial occupancies, not dwellings
- No — SPDs are optional equipment not mandated by any NEC edition
- Yes — but only if the dwelling has a swimming pool or spa
Correct answer: Yes — NEC 230.67 requires SPDs on all services supplying dwelling units starting with the 2020 NEC
The 2020 NEC added Section 230.67 requiring surge protective devices (Type 1 or Type 2) to be installed at the service entrance of all newly constructed dwelling units.
Question 6: When a CEI inspector encounters an electrical installation in a location where the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) has not adopted the latest NEC edition, which code edition governs the inspection?
- The edition that has been officially adopted by the local jurisdiction, even if it is an older edition (Correct answer)
- Always the most current NEC edition regardless of local adoption
- The edition referenced in the OSHA general industry standards
- The edition chosen by the licensed electrical contractor performing the work
Correct answer: The edition that has been officially adopted by the local jurisdiction, even if it is an older edition
The NEC does not have the force of law until formally adopted by a jurisdiction; inspectors must enforce the edition that has been legally adopted in their specific jurisdiction.
Question 7: An electrical inspector is reviewing a new industrial facility. The facility uses Type MC cable in a wet location. According to NEC 330.10(A)(11), which type of MC cable is permitted in wet locations?
- MC cable listed and identified for use in wet locations or MC cable with a bare equipment grounding conductor using impervious armor (Correct answer)
- All MC cable types are permitted in wet locations without restriction
- Only rigid metal conduit may be used in wet locations in industrial facilities
- MC cable is prohibited in all wet locations per NEC Article 330
Correct answer: MC cable listed and identified for use in wet locations or MC cable with a bare equipment grounding conductor using impervious armor
NEC 330.10(A)(11) permits MC cable in wet locations only if the cable is specifically listed for wet locations or uses an impervious metallic armor with an internal corrosion-resistant jacket.
CEI Safety & Compliance Regulations 4
A photovoltaic system inspection reveals that the DC combiner box is not labeled with the required maximum voltage.
Which NEC article requires voltage labeling on PV system equipment?