Cord supported by building?

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iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
Anyone have any thoughts on this detail?

7340bf15.jpg
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
400.8 Uses Not Permitted. Unless specifically permitted
in 400.7, flexible cords and cables shall not be used for the
following:

(4) Where attached to building surfaces

Exception to (4): Flexible cord and cable shall be permitted
to be attached to building surfaces in accordance with the
provisions of 368.56(B)

368.56(B) Cord and Cable Assemblies. Suitable cord and cable
assemblies approved for extra-hard usage or hard usage and
listed bus drop cable shall be permitted as branches from
busways for the connection of portable equipment or the
connection of stationary equipment to facilitate their interchange
in accordance with 400.7 and 400.8 and the following
conditions:

(1) The cord or cable shall be attached to the building by
an approved means.

(2) The length of the cord or cable from a busway plug-in
device to a suitable tension take-up support device shall
not exceed 1.8 m (6 ft).

(3) The cord and cable shall be installed as a vertical riser
from the tension take-up support device to the equipment
served.

(4) Strain relief cable grips shall be provided for the cord
or cable at the busway plug-in device and equipment
terminations.

Exception to (B)(2): In industrial establishments only,
where the conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure
that only qualified persons service the installation,
lengths exceeding 1.8 m (6 ft) shall be permitted between
the busway plug-in device and the tension take-up support
device where the cord or cable is supported at intervals not
exceeding 2.5 m (8 ft)


I don't see any busway in the detail.
 
Last edited:

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
400.7 Uses Permitted.
(A) Uses. Flexible cords and cables shall be used only for the following:
(1) Pendants
(2) Wiring of luminaires
(3) Connection of portable luminaires, portable and mobile signs, or appliances
(4) Elevator cables
(5) Wiring of cranes and hoists
(6) Connection of utilization equipment to facilitate frequent interchange
(7) Prevention of the transmission of noise or vibration
(8) Appliances where the fastening means and mechanical connections are specifically designed to permit ready removal for maintenance and repair, and the appliance is intended or identified for flexible cord connection
(9) Connection of moving parts
(10) Where specifically permitted elsewhere in this Code

Without knowing more about the installation the bold parts in 400.7 could possibly apply based on what we have seen. The pendant part especially.
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
I say the premises wiring stops at the receptacle. No foul. :)

I agree with George

OK, this section is not in the NEC?

406.9 Grounding-Type Receptacles, Adapters, Cord
Connectors, and Attachment Plugs.

(D) Grounding-Pole Requirements. Grounding-type attachment
plugs and mating cord connectors and receptacles
shall be designed such that the equipment grounding connection
is made before the current-carrying connections.
Grounding-type devices shall be so designed that grounding
poles of attachment plugs cannot be brought into contact with
current-carrying parts of receptacles or cord connectors.

That grounding pin seems to be past the receptacle.



422.44 Cord-and-Plug-Connected Immersion Heaters.
Electric heaters of the cord-and-plug-connected immersion
type shall be constructed and installed so that currentcarrying
parts are effectively insulated from electrical contact
with the substance in which they are immersed.

There is a requirement for cord and plug connected equipment, but by definition that must be beyond the receptacle.

It is all so confusing. :D
 

Dennis Alwon

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
This is an interesting situation. My gut tells me if the cord drop were directly connected to the building wiring it would be fine, however with the cord caps extending the wiring in that method I say it is a violation. No code to back it up but no code to really support it.
 

George Stolz

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
Occupation
Service Manager
I think its a situation where the sections you posted were likely introduced to drive a change in the standards, like the gfci in vending machine cords. It is confusing. :)

Could be a violation, might not. If I were inspecting it I'd say not.
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
I say the premises wiring stops at the receptacle. No foul. :)

So 110.3(B) can be ignored as far as cord and plug connected equipment?:?



Does the premises wiring end at just receptacles or does it end at any outlet?


And where can I find the term 'premises wiring' in 90.2(A)?
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
I think its a situation where the sections you posted were likely introduced to drive a change in the standards, like the gfci in vending machine cords. It is confusing. :)


I agree, but the CMP must certainly feel the scope of the NEC allows such sections that apply well beyond the receptacle.
 

don_resqcapt19

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Illinois
Occupation
retired electrician
I agree, but the CMP must certainly feel the scope of the NEC allows such sections that apply well beyond the receptacle.
I agree that a number of CMPs have passed proposals that exceed the scope of the NEC. Even though they are outside the scope, they are still code rules until they are removed.
 

Dennis Alwon

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
Let me ask you Don.

Do you feel the NEC stops at the 'outlet' as George (and many) feel it stops at the receptacle?
Either way, IMO, it is a violation to use an extension cord. The cord drop is nothing more than an extension cord with strain relief. I don't see how this can be compliant in a permanent install.
 

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
Let me ask you Don.

Do you feel the NEC stops at the 'outlet' as George (and many) feel it stops at the receptacle?

If what is connected to the outlet is NRTL listed it stops there.

If what is shown in OP did not have a receptacle at the ceiling, why is this not a pendant which is allowed in 400.7?

I'm not certain the receptacle disqualifies it as a pendant, but if there is not a receptacle I think it is more clear that it is a pendant.
 
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