This is as far as the electrical panel would open because it hit ductwork.  No one can safely work on this with out putting themselves in an akward and dangerous position.  The box was so sweaty it grew mold on the nearby wall and in time will rust all the controls inside this box.  I found numerous code violations in this building including no secondary drain protection, improperly grounded equipment (ground wire under a sheet rock screw) service side not accessable etc..  When the City of Waco was investigated by the TDLR they didn't show a permit being finaled but one was pulled.  When a formal written letter of alleged violations was filed against the license holder by the TDLR the city reversed its original statement to claim all permit problems were the cities oversight.  The contractor was protected and the corruption of permit fraud was never brought to justice.

 

So with all of TDLR's rules and regulations the core of the problem could not be corrected.  The result is a legitimate contractor lost the bid on this job or refused to do it at all because he was afraid of the rule violations he would be forced to commit.  Instead the cheaters won, were never punished and the building owners will suffer huge expenses to correct the problem(s).  Not to mention the mold already growing on the walls causing air quality issues for the occupants.

This is one of many mechanical closets that were too small for the equipment, the service access panel to get to the blower motor and belt was on the opposite side.  The only way to access it was to squeeze between the duct and the unit or the unit and the wall.  Neither of which would be safe and both are not code compliant.

 

So when we really do the need the city officials, they are turning a blind eye to blatent code violations?  Either that or not doing the inspections at all.

 

This building is only an example of horrible construction practices by builders in the State of Texas and it MUST be stopped.   

Steve Wiggins, Air Conditioning Contractor