HOLY EXPOSURE!

Is what Robin the boy wonder said when Batman ripped his tights. Exposing certain objects to the world can have detrimental consequences and in some instances cause a little embarrassment.

Take for example electrical wires. Exposed wire is not a very desirable or safe. The wires in our homes and buildings are covered with insulation not only to protect us from them, but to shield each wire from the others. Touching two live wires together can yield some spectacular fireworks, which is why for many, many years now wires have been insulated.

(A little aside, originally wires were not covered and fires were quite common.)

Part of older wire insulation was made from cloth. I still see cloth covered wires all the time. Problem with cloth and really most any material is it breaks down over time, especially outdoors. Since cloth covered wire is old to begin with, when I find it, the cloth covering is usually in bad condition.

Recently I found what has to be one of the worst instances of deteriorated wire insulation I have ever seen. The main service wires for the home were almost completely bare. Talk about exposure! Talk about dangerous!

You can see them in the picture. Notice the wires have insulation to the right and after the splice, nada. These wires were just inches away from each other and could easily touch with the help of a high wind.

This is a case of very bad exposure which requires immediate covering. What do you think Robin the Boy Wonder would say?  

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

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