wire staples

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

jetlag

Senior Member
Location
Eatonton, Georgia
Is it still ok to run 2 #12 on top of each other down center of 2x4 stud and faster both under the same metal romex uninsulated staple? It stills seams easier than trying to squeeze them side by side with plastic insulated staples. That way it has to be perfect to get the required 1- 1/4 from edge of stud. Also have the metal staples with no insulation coating been banned since I see them a lot on clearence racks. I know when its over 2 wires you can use the stand off brackets but they are expensive. I had rather put 2 wires on each side of stud, buy drilling thru that gives 4 wires. What is the most popular method now ?
 
mcclary's electrical

mcclary's electrical

Senior Member
Location
VA
jetlag said:
Is it still ok to run 2 #12 on top of each other down center of 2x4 stud and faster both under the same metal romex uninsulated staple? It stills seams easier than trying to squeeze them side by side with plastic insulated staples. That way it has to be perfect to get the required 1- 1/4 from edge of stud. Also have the metal staples with no insulation coating been banned since I see them a lot on clearence racks. I know when its over 2 wires you can use the stand off brackets but they are expensive. I had rather put 2 wires on each side of stud, buy drilling thru that gives 4 wires. What is the most popular method now ?
Click to expand...

I staple two and any more than that gets stackers
 
S

shepelec

Senior Member
Location
Palmer, MA
In my area the big push is for the longer red insulated staples for stacking.
Somewhere along the line the listing on the blue staples was changed to only allow 1 cable. The explanation I received was the amount of pull out tention was too small for two wires under one blue. My answer was then why are we allowed to use stackums? I'm still waiting for the answer.

I think it has to do with $$$$:roll:
 
J

jetlag

Senior Member
Location
Eatonton, Georgia
shepelec said:
In my area the big push is for the longer red insulated staples for stacking.
Somewhere along the line the listing on the blue staples was changed to only allow 1 cable. The explanation I received was the amount of pull out tention was too small for two wires under one blue. My answer was then why are we allowed to use stackums? I'm still waiting for the answer.

I think it has to do with $$$$:roll:
Click to expand...

The plain ones i had are only 1-1/8 long do you know how long the red ones are. I saw some red insulated in another city with 5 romex under same staple. No one here knew about them . i also checked the internet. They are much longer than the regular red insulates at supply house. Im starting to think those were not electrical staples but some of those staples they sell at the dry wall supply that go in a pasload gun , They are painted red but it is not insulation.
 
Jim W in Tampa

Jim W in Tampa

Senior Member
Location
Tampa Florida
They do not need to be insulated. You must follow instructions on the box as to size and number allowed. Derating still applies but will not be issue for 2 sets
 
J

jetlag

Senior Member
Location
Eatonton, Georgia
Thanks jim

Thanks jim

Jim W in Tampa said:
They do not need to be insulated. You must follow instructions on the box as to size and number allowed. Derating still applies but will not be issue for 2 sets
Click to expand...

That was one of my questions if the insulated are required now , i dont think the inspector will pull out the plain ones i have used to see how long they are but that might explain the plain ones being on clearence rake and they have blue for one wire and red for two now. Do you think the plain ones are banned now ?
 
M

macmikeman

Senior Member
Location
Planet macmikeman
Uninsulated staples are only banned where the inspectors are failed electrical contractors who now have axe to grind......


The nec doesn't have any issue with them unless you do not know how to install a staple such that you damage the cable. 334.30. But the same article could also be applied to insulated staples, so if a nincompoop slams an insulated staple too hard and it damages the cable he will also be violating the code.
 
LarryFine

LarryFine

Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
Location
Henrico County, VA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
frankft2000 said:
I have heard that uninsulated staples are banned in Massachusetts, but that could be a wives tale.
Click to expand...
A rumor no doubt started by wives that manufacture insulated staples.

The business was handed down by the original founders, the old wives.
 
acrwc10

acrwc10

Master Code Professional
Location
CA
Occupation
Building inspector
If the inspector is picking on the NM staples one of four things has occurred.
1) the installer has massacred the wire with the staple.
2) there is way to many wires under one staple.
3) there is not enough staples on a cable run.
4) the inspector is a complete F----'n idiot.

If it is one of the first three quit the trades. :grin:
 
Last edited:
Jim W in Tampa

Jim W in Tampa

Senior Member
Location
Tampa Florida
shepelec said:
Only insulated staples for romex allowed in the "Peoples Socialist Republic of Taxachusettes"!!:cool:
Click to expand...

We can not do much about what locals might pass out as laws of stupidity.

Perhaps 1 house burned down because of uninsulated staples. If properly installed they never even damage the sheath. However there are plenty of unskilled electricians that likely try to put too many under a staple and rather than use the correct size they just beat it in harder. Best inspectors out there can't check everything. Maybe it's time to just outlaw romex and use EMT. Romex is far from the best install system and will always have a few problems created by the unskilled.
 
acrwc10

acrwc10

Master Code Professional
Location
CA
Occupation
Building inspector
Jim W in Tampa said:
We can not do much about what locals might pass out as laws of stupidity.

Perhaps 1 house burned down because of uninsulated staples. If properly installed they never even damage the sheath. However there are plenty of unskilled electricians that likely try to put too many under a staple and rather than use the correct size they just beat it in harder. Best inspectors out there can't check everything. Maybe it's time to just outlaw romex and use EMT. Romex is far from the best install system and will always have a few problems created by the unskilled.
Click to expand...

If there was a law against "Stupidity" who would be left to enforce it. :grin::grin::grin:
 
M. D.

M. D.

Senior Member
In Massachusetts, if the nm cable is smaller than 3 # 8s the staples shall be of the insulatated type or listed noinsulated type driven by staple guns shall be permitted. I use insulated staples short and long I also use tie wraps,. I dislike stackers .
 
M

macmikeman

Senior Member
Location
Planet macmikeman
Insulated staples are nice for something. What? oh, well if you are running uf cable under a raised house on stilts near the ocean. The salt spray in the air takes years longer to rust the staple if it is the insulated type.
 
T

Teaspoon

Senior Member
Location
Camden,Tn.
M. D. said:
In Massachusetts, if the nm cable is smaller than 3 # 8s the staples shall be of the insulatated type or listed noinsulated type driven by staple guns shall be permitted. I use insulated staples short and long I also use tie wraps,. I dislike stackers .
Click to expand...

My personal favorite is the 1/2" plastic nails. I really don't care for the Staple, Gun that came out a couple years ago. I usually put( 2 )12/2 wires under the wire nails. I also am a big user of wire ties. Certain situations I use the wire stackers. But as has already been stated they can be a little expensive.
The old uninsulated staples were used for years, when properly installed,
they are fine. But one lick to much can cause major problems.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top