Electrical Temporary Wiring

Self-Inspection Checklist

Guidelines

This checklist covers regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under the general industry standards subpart S 29 CFR 1910.305 and the construction standards 29 CFR 1926.405. It applies to allowed temporary wiring situations. This checklist does not cover installations in ships, watercraft, railway rolling stock, aircraft, or automotive vehicles other than mobile homes and recreational vehicles. This checklist also does not apply to conductors that are an integral part of factory assembled equipment. The regulations cited apply only to private employers and their employees, unless adopted by a State agency and applied to other groups such as public employees. Definitions of terms in bold type are provided at the end of the checklist.

1. Is temporary wiring for 600 volts, nominal or less, only permitted (a) for construction, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition of buildings, structures, or equipment, and similar activities; (b) for experimental or development work, and (c) for a period not to exceed 90 days for Christmas decorative lighting, carnivals, and similar purposes? [29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(i) and 1926.405(a)(2)(i)]Note: Examples of violations have included the following: extension cords were used instead of permanent wiring, adapters were used, and multi-outlets were used.
2. Are temporary wiring distribution centers for feeders approved for such use? [29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(iii)(A) and 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(A)]
3. Are feeders for temporary wiring run as multiconductor cord or cable assemblies, or, where not subject to physical damage, as open conductors on insulators not more than 10 feet apart? [29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(iii)(A) and 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(A)]
4. Are temporary wiring power outlets or panelboards for branch circuits approved for such use? [29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(iii)(B) and 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(B)]
5. Are temporary wiring conductors for branch circuits run as multiconductor cord or cable assemblies or open conductors? [29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(iii)(B) and 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(B)]
6. If open conductors are used for temporary wiring branch circuits, are conductors fastened at ceiling height every 10 feet? [29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(iii)(B) and 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(B)]
7. Are temporary wiring branch circuits conductors prohibited from being laid on the floor? [29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(iii)(B) and 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(B)]
8. If run as an open conductor, does each temporary wiring branch circuits that supplies receptacles or fixed equipment contain a separate equipment grounding conductor? [29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(iii)(B) and 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(B)]
9. Are receptacles of the grounding type? [29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(iii)(C) and 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(C)]
10. Unless installed in a complete metallic raceway, does each branch circuits have a separate equipment grounding conductor, and are all receptacles electrically connected to the grounding conductor? [29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(iii)(C) and 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(C)]
11. Are earth returns prohibited for temporary wiring? [29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(iii)(D)]
12. Are bare conductors prohibited for temporary wiring? [29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(iii)(D)]
13. Are suitable disconnecting switches or plug connectors installed to permit the disconnection of all ungrounded conductors of each temporary circuit? [29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(iii)(E) and 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(D)]
14. Are lamps for general illumination protected from accidental contact or breakage? [29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(iii)(F) and 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(E)]
15. Are lamps for general illumination elevated at least 7 feet from normal working surfaces or protected by a suitable fixture or lampholder with a guard? [29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(iii)(F)]
16. Are flexible cords and cables protected from damage? [29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(iii)(G) and 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(I)]Note: Avoid sharp corners and projections. Where passing through doorways or other pinch points, flexible cords and cables should be provided with protection to avoid damage.

Definitions

Branch circuit: the circuit conductors between the final overcurrent device protecting the circuit and the outlet(s).

Feeder: all circuit conductors between the service equipment (or the generator switchboard of an isolated plant) and the final branch-circuit overcurrent device.

Panelboard: a single or group of panel units designed for assembly in the form of a single panel. The panelboard includes buses and automatic overcurrent devices, and may or may not have switches to control light, heat, or power circuits. It is designed to be placed in a cabinet or cutout box in or against a wall and accessible only from the front.

Raceway: a channel designed for holding wires, cables, or busbars, with additional functions as permitted. Raceways may be of metal or insulating materials, and the term includes rigid metal conduit, rigid nonmetallic conduit, intermediate metal conduit, liquid-tight flexible metal conduit, flexible metallic tubing, flexible metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing, underfloor raceways, cellular concrete floor raceways, cellular metal floor raceways, surface raceways, wireways, and busways.