CEI Safety & Compliance Regulations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CEI inspector must verify compliance with working space requirements. For 480V equipment with exposed live parts on one side and grounded parts on the other, what is the minimum depth of working space per NEC Table 110.26(A)(1)?
- 3.5 feet (Condition 2) (Correct answer)
- 3 feet (Condition 1)
- 4 feet (Condition 3)
- 2.5 feet (Condition 1)
Correct answer: 3.5 feet (Condition 2)
NEC Table 110.26(A)(1) Condition 2 (exposed live parts on one side, grounded on the other) for 151–600V requires 3.5 feet of working space depth.
Question 2: Which document establishes the minimum qualifications and safety training requirements that a 'qualified person' must meet before working on electrical equipment under OSHA standards?
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.332 training requirements in conjunction with 1910.331–1910.335 (Correct answer)
- NFPA 70E Annex Q alone
- NEC Article 100 definitions only
- IEEE 1584 arc flash calculation standards
Correct answer: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.332 training requirements in conjunction with 1910.331–1910.335
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.332 specifies the safety training requirements that define what a 'qualified person' must know, as part of the electrical safety standards in 1910.331–1910.335.
Question 3: During a residential inspection, the inspector notices that a bathroom has a receptacle outlet within 6 feet of the sink but it is not GFCI-protected. The homeowner claims it was installed before GFCI requirements existed. What is the correct inspection action?
- Require GFCI protection as existing installations in bathrooms must comply when altered or re-inspected under current code adoption (Correct answer)
- Allow it because pre-existing installations are grandfathered indefinitely
- Require GFCI only if the circuit is being extended or modified
- Note it as an advisory item with no enforcement authority
Correct answer: Require GFCI protection as existing installations in bathrooms must comply when altered or re-inspected under current code adoption
When electrical work is performed or a permit is issued, jurisdictions typically require bringing affected areas into compliance with current GFCI requirements per NEC 406.4(D).
Question 4: An inspector finds that a 200A service entrance panel has its neutral bus bonded to the equipment grounding conductor (EGC) bus in a subpanel fed from the main service. This is a violation of which NEC section?
- 250.142(B) — which prohibits neutral-to-ground bonding at a subpanel (separate structure or separately derived system rules apply)
- 250.28 — which only allows neutral bonding at the first means of disconnect
- 250.64 — which requires separate grounding electrode conductors
- 250.32 — which governs buildings or structures supplied by a feeder or branch circuit (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 250.32 — which governs buildings or structures supplied by a feeder or branch circuit
NEC 250.32 governs buildings or structures supplied by feeders and prohibits connecting the grounded (neutral) conductor to the equipment grounding system at the subpanel, preventing neutral current from flowing on the EGC.
Question 5: A CEI inspector is reviewing plans for a new commercial kitchen. Which NEC article and section requires GFCI protection for all 125V through 250V receptacles within 6 feet of a sink?
- 210.8(B)(2) (Correct answer)
- 210.8(A)(7)
- 406.9(B)
- 230.95(A)
Correct answer: 210.8(B)(2)
NEC 210.8(B)(2) requires GFCI protection for receptacles installed within 6 feet of a sink in commercial kitchens and other non-dwelling commercial occupancies.
Question 6: Under the NEC, what is the maximum height at which a service disconnect must be installed so that the operating handle is accessible in its highest position?
- 6 feet 7 inches (2.0 m) above the finished floor or working platform (Correct answer)
- 7 feet above the finished floor
- 5 feet above the finished floor
- No height restriction is specified for service disconnects
Correct answer: 6 feet 7 inches (2.0 m) above the finished floor or working platform
NEC 404.8(A) requires that switches and circuit breakers used as switches have the center of the grip of the operating handle not more than 6 feet 7 inches (2.0 m) above the floor or working platform.
Question 7: An inspector is verifying cable support requirements. Type NM cable installed in an accessible attic must be protected from physical damage in which specific situation according to the NEC?
- When run across the top of floor joists or within 7 feet of the scuttle hole where the attic is accessible by a permanently installed stairway (Correct answer)
- Only when the cable runs perpendicular to joists regardless of accessibility
- Whenever any cable is installed in an attic space above a conditioned living area
- Cable in attics never requires physical protection under the NEC
Correct answer: When run across the top of floor joists or within 7 feet of the scuttle hole where the attic is accessible by a permanently installed stairway
NEC 334.23 and 320.23 require NM and AC cable in accessible attics to be protected when run across the tops of floor joists or within 7 feet of the access opening if the attic is accessible via a stairway.
CEI Safety & Compliance Regulations 3
A CEI inspector must verify compliance with working space requirements.
For 480V equipment with exposed live parts on one side and grounded parts on the other, what is the minimum depth of working space per NEC Table 110.26(A)(1)?