does code require the removal of abandon wiring
- Thread starter Donna1
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Massachusetts
In general no, as the NFPA does not own it and really cannot force it's removal.
There are a few sections for low voltage cables that either have to be removed or marked at each end for future use.
Also you cannot leave dead ended conductors in underfloor raceways like walkerduct etc.
north star
Senior Member
- Location
- inside Area 51
$ $ $ $
Donna1,
Welcome to the Forum!.......What type of wiring are you referring to specifically?
$ $ $ $
Donna1,
Welcome to the Forum!.......What type of wiring are you referring to specifically?
$ $ $ $
stickboy1375
Senior Member
- Location
- Litchfield, CT
So you can't leave future wires? whats the harm and reasoning in this proposal?
erickench
Senior Member
- Location
- Brooklyn, NY
The reason why abandoned cables must be removed is because they are a fire hazard.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
How so?
Really? If it's abandoned, it's no longer hooked up. Is the brand new coil of Romex sitting on the floor of a job site a fire hazard?
gadfly56
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Professional Engineer, Fire & Life Safety
Sure. The insulation is considered part of the fuel load from a fire safety perspective.
stickboy1375
Senior Member
- Location
- Litchfield, CT
I don't see that... and were just talking underfloor raceways here...
- Location
- Massachusetts
And that means what?
As another posted does that mean I can't store a roll of NM in a building?
- Location
- Massachusetts
You may not be failure with 'walker duct' (AKA Underfloor raceways)
Here is a picture of it before the cement is poured in. (Edit: all that you see will be under the cement, the round portions just a 1/8" to 1/4" below the finish so you can break into them at any time in the future for changes.)
Now if you are making changes to an existing set up and you remove a j-box they don't want you to just stuff the dead ended conductors into the raceway. Think about removing a 4" square from the end of an EMT run, would you pull the conductors back to the next box or would you just stuff them into the EMT and leave them there?
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Um . . . ok. :? I've always interpreted "fire hazard" as meaning "could cause a fire." A disconnected and abandoned wire poses no threat, whatsoever.
The OP didn't say anything about raceways.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Yes, it is part of the fire load, but compared to the finishes and furnishings of the building it is, in most buildings, such a small part of the total fire load it doesn't make any real difference.
IMO, wires installed for future use are not abandoned conductors, they have never been in use and would not meet the definition of abandoned. They are puposely installed and left for a reason.
Roger
stickboy1375
Senior Member
- Location
- Litchfield, CT
I know and agree, but even if they were used before, they could be used again, just like leaving wires for the future that never get used in the future.
It's all the same to me, just word games.
stickboy1375
Senior Member
- Location
- Litchfield, CT
stickboy1375
Senior Member
- Location
- Litchfield, CT
I've actually worked with "walker duct" before, and thanks for the explanation, makes more sense when you look at it like that.
- Status