Clearly many in the industry have no clue that an inspector cannot make up their own rules. See 90.4

[@djcip1]

Well stated Mike! I was a municipal electrical inspector for over 25 years, and when I read the comments here it makes my skin crawl. “My inspector wants this or my inspector wants that”. I understand, as you said, contractors don’t want to piss off the inspector, but that’s how they are able to get away with their b.s. Mike, maybe you could act as a clearinghouse for people to submit the names of inspectors that abuse their authority, citing the particulars of their offense. If enough contractors banded together in a jurisdiction, you might be able to get action against a rogue inspector.

[@MikeHoltNEC]

You are such a breath of fresh air. God Bless my Brother.

[@travishamilton1659]

He's absolutely right. Just because they might want it to be done that way doesn't mean you have to or that the way you did it was wrong

[@alangivens7983]

Loved this video and your talk reminded me of what I told my employees all the time when they said well if you piss off the inspector he will find other things. To which my response was we don't do our work to code, we meet or exceed only, if an inspector can find fault in your work then kudos to him or her, and lets not have anything they can fail you on.

[@MikeHoltNEC]

😎

[@95thousandroses]

Daaaang. Mike not taking any prisoners today!

[@elpajaropelu9527]

I hit them with "With all due respect but can you site me what code article that's from?" If they can't provide an article, they cannot fail you!! This is not your way or No way!!

[@davidOConnor-z3l]

And when you say that you say that in a very apologetic and condescending tone as you hold your heads together almost in prayer and bowing to them you know what I’m saying you had the body language with that question but that manner and then someone can have no choice but to be put in place or continue to be even more than a home

[@TwilightxKnight13]

Yes, they CAN fail you. What you meant to say, is “they should not fail you.” Remember there are two meanings for the word “can,” being “should” and “capable.”

[@GMartinez777]

My response to you would be, can you cite an article or code that states you ca do that? Learn to read and find out just with the electrical code how many articles there is to memorize.

[@DEVanderbiltCecil]

'Cite' in this instance.

[@GMartinez777]

@@DEVanderbiltCecil thank you

[@carlomiranda3799]

Hey, sir. Thanks to you and your study material, i was able to pass my electrical tests for my journeymen (score 87) and masters (score 90) license. Mike Holts' study programs are well worth every penny! Thank you!!

[@MikeHoltNEC]

I love hearing this great news! Congratulations

[@ericnortan9012]

Used them for my masters, pass. All of my apprentices over the last 10 years or so used his videos/guides. Out of the five, three kicked ass, all over 90% one got a 97, he was real smart. The other two passed relively easy, high 80s. I would reccomend him to anyone prepping to test and I still use his stuff for reference sometimes, especially for stuff you may not do all the time.

[@MikeHoltNEC]

🔥🔥🔥

[@MikeHoltNEC]

@@ericnortan9012 Thanks and I'm so glad my work has made a difference in your life and the life of others.

[@DamienWellsElectric]

Thank you Mike you hit the nail on the head 🙌🏻

[@mikekaufman921]

First time watching your videos. As a retired electrician I agree with you especially the part about taking pride in the work you do if you do take pride in your work you don’t have to worry about the inspector finding a problem somewhere else.

[@DEVanderbiltCecil]

I respect the hell out of you guys. Thank you.

[@Check7his]

Thank you Mike, you're awesome! God bless you too! 🙏

[@davidOConnor-z3l]

I need to buy that book that he has for that test because only because I did not have that book I failed

[@donmclean1220]

I have a friend who owns a lot of older rental properties with 2 wire circuits. He put in some GFCI receptacles and the inspector said they would not work because there was no ground. He actually wanted them removed. My friend had to go to the inspectors supervisor to get the work approved. Makes you wonder what else the inspector didn’t know.

[@davidOConnor-z3l]

Their industry is lobbied by big companies

[@joemon.8550]

I have done this and that inspector made it obvious how un happy he was with me ever since. Tuff situation to decide witch route is most productive. But I do agree with you fully. On the brighter side being an electrician for the last 30 years has been a blessing. And I truly love working in the industry. I'm blessed to be the in house electrician for a general Contractor. Keeping the inspector happy and on my side seems worth it at times.

[@realdeal485]

You grew on me like an informational fungus lol.. Thanks for all the great videos..

[@MikeHoltNEC]

Lol.... nice! Have a safe day and God Bless, Mike

[@seantreakle1174]

Thank you Mike

[@BackyardMaine]

I get the same comments Mike. I hear it every day in the comments on my videos. People either don't understand the code or they are just afraid to push back.

[@davidOConnor-z3l]

That’s why they called them/us/you/Etc ,, sheep

[@GoodstrAteGy]

I get what you’re saying “technically” but if your gona be working with the inspector often its better to cooperate with them and just be as knowledgeable about the issue as possible they usually will work with you, but I have had them say “I dont find that acceptable for this scenario” even though its up to code, but most of the time you can reason with them especially if they dont know all the exceptions or havnt seen the type of work before

[@jonathonengland5873]

Its about us knowing the code enough so we can give the inspector the information if he needs it.

[@mackellyman5642]

You can always demand a correction notice with the appropriate code section. (Due Process of the Law).

[@WilliamMayes-hn3ph]

Knowledge is King. Use that knowledge with diplomacy. Continuing education is just that. Continuing. Whatever it takes to become efficiently proficient

[@MikeHoltNEC]

Excellent

[@ericnortan9012]

I have always felt AHJ means he interprets what the code means. Like you said. If you dont agree you can request a higher authority to settle it. In michigan you can appeal to the state head inspector.

[@steveloux4709]

This needed to be said for a long time. I'm so sick of the, "it's up to the AHJ" retorts. And by the way, the inspector in most circumstances, is NOT the AHJ. Don't treat him/her as such. S/he is there to carry out the approved rules, not make them up on the jobsite.

[@MikeHoltNEC]

You are 100% right!

[@stevenworsley5659]

Right up there with ~*~ThE cOdE iS a MiNiMuM~*~

[@steveloux4709]

@@stevenworsley5659 💯

[@Neil-ym8vy]

It depends on the state requirements and not the AHJ. States have different ammendments to the 2024 for how they want things done. Some states have not even accepted the 2024 yet. It's just a fact.

[@davenag957]

An acquaintance built a detached 3 car garage and the inspector told the electrician that gfcis were not required inside the garage because there wasn't a water service feeding the garage! Only the exterior receptacles needed gfci protection. I was appalled at the liability that the inspector took upon himself and the village.

[@keything8487]

thank you !!

[@jontopham2742]

Mike in NJ the name is an electric subcode official changed in that specific section by ammendment. I'm curious if this effects enforcement. Also the AHJ is needed for some sections like allowing campus fire pumps

[@SillyPutty3700]

Just because they are not allowed to does not mean they can't.

[@davidOConnor-z3l]

Tell that to God because that’s who they think they are

[@41keystar14]

Hey Mr.Holt, I’m looking into article 680, specifically part 3. 680.2 states Storable/ Portable Spas. Part 3 of Article 680 does not specify Portable. The reason I bring this up is because, a portable spa should apply to this section! Another reason I bring this up is 680.4 goes for all installations associated with 680. Why isn’t portable specifically stated in Part 3 of article 680 ? It isn’t the work it is the legal nomenclature. The AHJ shall be permitted to require periodic inspection and testing.

[@MikeHoltNEC]

I'm not sure what year Code book you have, but it's not that way in the 2023 NEC.

[@41keystar14]

@@MikeHoltNEC I’m looking in the 2020 I have the 2023 as well will look there next. I don’t see 680.2 in the 2023 NEC, have we even adopted 2023 yet? It looks like CT is still under 2020

[@joshprater8533]

I know some inspectors, where they came from (in the industry) and what their education was. A lot of em don't know squat and are just making stuff up.

[@MrGourgy]

That’s is what I get the most push back from my colleagues, and the burden of proof is always on me.

[@ELECTRICKEN]

I would definitely challenge them but respectfully. Have the the code reference ready if you suspect an inspector may say something.

[@hgbugalou]

An inspector making you do things not in the code book can actively make things more dangerous, as in the case with ground rods in lighting poles. Any inspector worth his salt will want to follow code.

[@davidOConnor-z3l]

Hey I recently failed a California voice a video and data technician test I already have my California fire life safety certification and I found no answers in any of the books they provided was the standard NEC 70 and NFPA 72 so I need to buy you a book because apparently some of those questions are based on your book more so than the ones I mentioned I have a lot of guys in my company that cannot pass their fire life safety and I tried to tell them about you but they Don’t listen

[@cykes5124]

Inspector has the power to make your life hell. Ensure you have the money and lawyers necessary when they inevitably say no. This is something that requires the law to change to reduce the power the state and inspectors have. If the inspector is asking for *more* safety, I don't see a problem. Code is minimum and there's plenty of examples of compliant work that won't last and is less safe. While noalox isn't required in some places there's plenty of examples of the alloyed wire unnecessarily oxidizing in various conditions. I think it's proper that any wire connection use a proper oxidation reducing agent. The U.S. is special in that we think it's proper to run bare wire connections. Most other countries require ferrules or some kind of standard crimp.

[@jimlopez8197]

100% agree.

[@moroteseoinage]

Inspector: I am the law

[@roneckler9937]

A lot of the issues I see is we are subjected to their interpretation of the code. They may read it and understand it differently than we were taught, so they will enforce their interpretation of the code. The other issue is that most electricians are ignorant to the code and won't challenge the inspectors on something. I was always taught to have my code book with me on ALL jobs, even if I knew the code by heart. The inspector cannot argue with what is in front of his face.

[@MikeHoltNEC]

Excellent comment!

[@TwilightxKnight13]

The inspector can still argue that your interpretation of the code is wrong or they can just choose to fail the work because they don’t like your attitude. This is where there is a difference between “can” and “should.” In a large city, you might have a good chance to escalate the issue to the inspector’s boss and/or sue through the courts, but in smaller jurisdictions, it might be virtually impossible to fight against the inspector. You just have to choose to either do it the way they want it done, or not to work in that jurisdiction.

[@roneckler9937]

@@TwilightxKnight13 I usually don't have issues with the inspectors, but I will argue the difference with them and try to explain my understanding of the code. For instance: I had an inspector tell me since I replaced the service in a home, all the circuits had to be AFCI protected because I had modified the branch circuits. I told him the only thing I did was replace the panel and I hadn't touched any branch circuits. He sited me the code for modifying branch circuits, and said, because you changed the panel and all the branch circuits come out of the panel, you have modified all the branch circuits.🤔I told him to slow down on the drugs a little and to take a few courses in Electrical 101 then I called his boss. That was just one inspector though. I have had some really good inspectors that were very knowledgeable.

[@MrTooTechnical]

Awesome. Kick butt.

[@blanerandolph8658]

I've heard "The NEC is minimum standards."

[@Jeff-xy7fv]

OK, so how is the inspector in Novi, Michigan allowed to prohibit green wirenuts from being used on grounding conductors when they are clearly allowed in the Code, and are allowed in all other surrounding suburbs? He demands that we use only Buchanan crimp eyes on ground wires in every box. He failed the job and wouldn't pass it unless I use what he prefers.

[@davidOConnor-z3l]

Green wire nuts is an oxymoron term if I’ve ever heard one

[@Kurt-the-Electrician]

@@davidOConnor-z3lwould you explain what you mean that green wire nuts are an oxymoron?

[@TwilightxKnight13]

That is all fine and good in theory, but at the end of the day, the inspector DOES have the authority to pass/fail your job and many locations, especially a place like Illinois where there is no central licensing authority, you have little recourse. Sure you can sue the jurisdiction, but that is cost prohibitive and very time consuming, and even then the chances are good you will lose because the courts do not understand the code anymore than most casual people. You can do it right, you can quote the code, but at the end of the day the inspector is going to demand what they demand. If it is a safety issue, fighting the inspector is warranted, but if it’s more of an “above and beyond” situation, just do what the inspector wants and move on with your life.

[@JeffBanfield-t6v]

I have had to tell inspectors that they were incorrect and go over their heads to get issues resolved. One of my former bosses gave me the advice to "choose your battles wisely" when it comes to pushing back on the inspector. First of all, you better be damn sure you are correct if you're going to challenge them. You have to be 100 percent sure you will win the argument, otherwise it isn't worth it! Secondly, sometimes if it makes no difference in the overall scheme of things, it is easier to appease them. I had an inspector tell me l needed a third ground rod once. It was cheaper to add the ground rod than it was to buy a specialized tester to measure the impedance of the grounding electrode system. Choose wisely. I would strongly advise against the anti-oxidation argument, or the red head argument. Best practice is always best.

[@MikeHoltNEC]

The NEC never requires more than two ground rods. Regardless of the contact resistance.

[@JeffBanfield-t6v]

@@MikeHoltNEC Don't forget Mike, local jurisdictions have their own rules as well. This particular jurisdiction had a certain requirement for the grounding that we were obligated to meet. This county sits on sugar sand, and two grounding rods often aren't effective. The reason local jurisdictions amend NEC is due to local conditions. Amendments are often made because someone has already been killed or seriously injured. NEC is great, but it's not the end all be all. You must recognize local rules. You would do a much better service to your subscribers if you explained that local jurisdictions DO have the ability to amend the NEC and they should always check with the AHJ to find out what the amendments are.

[@MikeHoltNEC]

@@JeffBanfield-t6v This video address the scope of the AHJ and that they can't make up their own rules. If the state, county, city has an electrical Code then that is what the AHJ has to use.

[@kevinmccauley3877]

Amen!!!

[@jamesharrison7261]

Typical alphabet agency mentality😅 Teamwork gets it done.🎉

[@jamestooley9449]

Wow NEC minimum code is exactly what's enforcedin all Jurisdiction , but obviously California has title 24 requirements prior to and enforcement of Beverly Hills AHJ from way back to when I began my career in 89' was (No Romex ) residential....San Franscsco with color coded MC requirements. Or let's say OSHPOD Hospital codes.....I appreciate code knowledge and understanding that AHJ can never take away minimum code requirements but they can add teeth.....more rigid requirements ....and Mr. Mike a measure of humility for your brothers and sisters that many times learn at a different pace from more or less informed mentors.

[@Icehso140]

If the manufacturers instructions say you need to install insulating bushings on their MC cable...then what??? Chapter 110.

[@MikeHoltNEC]

Well that would be true, but they don't say that. Search the Internet "NEMA No 90" and you'll understand why.

[@Icehso140]

@@MikeHoltNEC I've been in a ceiling with 277 whips that explode in a shower of sparks because someone refused to use the bushings. NEC is minimum...but minimum isn't always best. The NEC has updates every cycle for safety reasons. I go the extra steps and get hired and re-hired because of it. Geting a job we bid is one thing...recommendations to new customers and callbacks to bid new jobs are what keep the lights on.

[@halledwardb]

Nice.

[@diegomontoya796]

Bathrooms don't need afci protection. Unless that has been clarified.

[@RJ-ej1nr]

My county AHJ says we do. No, not some power hungry inspector. They legit amended the code, so if you look up the county’s code it’s actually there saying so. And also for nearly every other branch circuit in a dwelling unit. I suspect you are more fortunate though, and thus correct for your AHJ.

[@MikeHoltNEC]

Correct, see NEC 210.12.

[@kot0564]

You basically just said don’t capitulate to the AHJ but you might as well capitulate