wrote
On Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:25:35 -0400, "Robert Green" wrote

stuff snipped

There's some serious doubt that this job was done to code from the OP's
description. That's very actionable both via the licensing bureau(s) and
the court system. In either case, more information is needed as to
whether
tying the fan to an existing outlet box is code-worthy. I can't say for
sure - the OP would have to contact the AHJ in this case. He would have
to
do his homework. He now knows that he has to find out for sure about the
outlet/fan tie-in, especially if he does decide to sue for
non-performance.


Don't know what CURRENT code is, particularly in NYC, but years back
here in Canada (don't know if it was canada wide, Ontario, or just
locally) you could connect a fan to an existing circuit if it was HARD
WIRED - but you could not install a receptacle behind the fan and plug
it in on an existing circuit.
A combination hood fan/microwave was a conumdrum - the microwave HAD
to have a separate circuit - and the fan, if plugged in, could not be
on the same circuit. Wiring the fan and microwave together in the
wiring cabinet of the unit allowed you to legally run the microwave
and the fan on the same receptacle. Some rules were made without
taking into account changes in technology coming down the pipe - - - .

All good points to consider. NYC still uses BX so they are still a little
paranoid about electrical fires in buildings that could spread to an entire
block of rowhouses. I assume they are equally wary of non-licensed
electricians doing electrical hook-ups. The OP would have to get a ruling
from the AHJ as to whether the work was legal. Since it doesn't sound as if
it was inspected before it was sealed up, my guess is it would be flunked
for that alone. But it's just a guess. I left NYC in 1970. Only the AHJ
knows for sure. The problem is once you alert them, you can end up on a
forced path of redoing the work.

My neighbor had an entire unpermitted sunroom added to the back of her
house. I told her Google's gonna get you sooner or later and you may have
to take the whole thing down. They used an enormous amount of concrete for
the foundation and attached the addition to the brick wall of the back of
the house (her sister works for a concrete contractor so they got a deal).
Both our houses are built over some pre-existing springs. As you might
imagine, as the foundation settles, and it's settling pretty seriously, it's
pulling the back of the house down with it. The addition may self-destruct
long before the inspectors find it. She enjoys the heck out of it though,
so it may be worth it to her in the long run.

Still, as the old saying goes "you can't fight city hall (or gravity!)."

--
Bobby G.