EDITORIAL
Most of us “step it up a notch”
during the holidays. In addition to our family and work
responsibilities, we are pulled in many other directions. The
reason I was able to peruse the December issue of NEC Digest was
the wait time in a doctor’s office. Instead of alleviating the
stress of waiting well over an hour, one article served to
heighten my anger:
Recently, some entities have been pressing to exclude licensed
master electricians from installing 120 volt smoke and carbon
monoxide alarms. (There is conflicting jurisdiction to justify
either side.) However, it was the article “NEC Article 760” that
raised my ire. Quite by coincidence, the Nassau Electric League
featured a full length article in the Bulletin, on NEC 725.
(That NEC article addresses remote control, signaling and
power-limited circuits.)
What caught my attention in NEC Digest was a quote stating that,
“Cables installed above suspended ceilings must be supported
independently of the grid using support wires independent of the
grid.” The caption in the Bulletin noted that accessible
abandoned cables must be removed.
In our work, it is often necessary to lift a tile in a ceiling
grid system. How often is the tile heavier than it should be?
How many times do we risk damage to or destruction of a tile,
due to alarm, CATV CAT 5, or telephone cable atop the grid? How
often have we hoped that the “too-tight wire” we stressed was
not connected to a low voltage device, and then found that it
was not even in use?
It is this editor’s opinion that before one trade pushes for
enforcement against another, enforcement of NFPA 72 and NEC
standards be given priority. Ultimately, there is enough work
for everyone, and all trades would benefit from working together
amicably. Open communication is the key.
|
