A building manager in Phoenix tried to argue with me about a code violation on a traction motor replacement

He kept pointing at the old motor and saying 'It worked fine for 20 years, just put the new one in the same spot.' I had to pull out the code book and show him the updated clearance requirements, specifically section 2.7.3. He finally backed down, but it was a solid hour of my day gone. Anyone else run into pushback on code updates from non-mechanics lately?

3 comments

3 Comments

noahc1419d ago

Had a property owner in Tempe try that last month. I just started taking photos of the violation with my phone and asking where to email the report.

gavin_moore19d ago

Tempe's code enforcement actually has a public dashboard showing complaint status. I checked it after a similar issue last year and noticed repeat offenders get flagged faster. @noahc14 had the right idea making a record, but sending it through the city's official app creates a paper trail they can't ignore. A landlord tried to brush me off until I mentioned the case number from my submitted photo. They fixed the broken fence within a week because the city had already sent a notice.

anna_stone4519d ago

That photo record idea from @noahc14 is a total game changer. It turns a talk into a fact. I started doing the same thing, but now I also take a quick video panning from the code book page to the actual violation. Sent one of those to a building owner in Glendale who was fighting a simple GFCI update near a sink. Seeing the rule in print right next to his faulty outlet shut down the argument fast. He called his electrician that afternoon.