Rohnert Parks OUT OF NEC CODE Christmas tree lights.

Year after year I have told the Rohnert Parks Maintenance, and all the City Hall folks that the lights on Rohnert Park Expressway don’t meet the NEC (National Electrial Codes) and they keep putting them up. Not only aren’t the reciptials 12” above the flood plane, they use old extension cords, that are tape together. Then the plugs are in the area that you need to stand in the water to plug them in.

If you look closely at the picture with two plugs n the outlet, you will see that the face of the outlet isn’t even touching the gasket. The face is completely loose. Therefore it isn’t waterproof at all. Someone could get killed during a rain storm if the lights are on, and water causes a short.

People crossing the road might try to plug in the lights and they might step in the puddles when there is a electrial short, and get electrocuted.

Plus the road design puts drivers at risk if their left front wheel drifts over because of the steep drop off from the asphalt, and the much lower center divider. This will catch the wheel and pull them into the center. And let’s hope it’s not where the main electricrial feeder is sticking above ground, instead of being buried 24” deep as required by the NEC. Plus the plug recpitials aren’t water tight when the cords are plugged in. Also required by the NEC.

The workers might get hurt hooking them up when they want to turn them on.

One photo shows the whole 2” PVC supply line sticking up above grade, And in the middle of the puddle. How stupid is this? The Conduit must be buried at least 24” below grade. All the Junction Boxes are under water. This is the Requirement per the NEC

Outdoor receptacles must be installed in special electrical boxes and have special covers, based on the installation type and their location.

• All surface-mounted (or "flush-mount") boxes must be listed for outdoor use. Boxes in wet locations must be listed for wet locations.
• Metal boxes must be grounded (same rule applies to all indoor and outdoor metal boxes).
• Receptacles installed in damp locations (such as on a wall that is protected overhead by a porch roof or other covering) must have a weatherproof cover that is approved for damp locations (or wet locations).
• Receptacles located in wet locations (unprotected from rainfall) must have an "in-use" cover rated for wet locations. This type of cover protects the receptacle from moisture even when a cord is plugged into it.

Circuit cables serving wall-mounted receptacles and light fixtures can be run through the wall and use standard nonmetallic (NM) cable, provided the cable is in a dry location and is protected from damage and moisture. Receptacles and fixtures that are away from the house typically are fed by underground (direct burial) circuit cable.

• Cable in wet areas or underground must be underground feeder (UF-B) type.
• Underground cable must be buried at least 24 inches deep, although a 12-inch depth may be allowed for 20-amp or smaller-capacity circuits with GFCI protection.
• Buried cable must be protected by approved conduit from a depth of 18 inches (or the required burial depth) to 8 feet above the ground. All exposed portions of UF cable must be protected by approved conduit.
• Openings where UF cable enter conduit must include a bushing to prevent damage to the cable.

And you do it over and over even after you were told it’s out of code.

And you can’t say it’s a temporary installation because it’s been there for years. I have been turning the violations in to you for three years now without and answers or changes.

How would OSHIA feel about you putting the workers in danger?