To Support or Not To Support...

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360Youth

360Youth

Senior Member
Location
Newport, NC
We just finished a generator install where we ended up running the conduit along the building rather than trench underground (the customer could not confidently give exact location of water line, plus it is a fairly narrow stretch of land and our conduit would be one less obstacle should there be any repairs down the road on what was already burried). Anyway, I had make a run back to the shop in order to heat a saddle for the pvc run and the following pic is the end result.


MHCSaddle.jpg



I intend to go back and mount some sort of support for the saddle, but I am curious as to whether some feel there is an NEC requirement for a support or is it just better design.

BTW, the saddle would have looked a little better had not my failing memory convinced me it was a 6" pipe I had to get around rather than the 4" that was waiting for me when I got back. :roll: Outside of that, I thought it came out pretty good. :grin:
 
you could have done 4-90s and used a LB at the top and an LR at the bottom opposite the plumbing pipe. but other than that you could cut two pieces of strut, weld them to a 90, bolt it to concrete and then strap it. or you could have called in for a locate from utility and the dug a trench.

to other posters: Is pvc allowed to be exposed? and does it have to be scedule 80?
 
I don't think any addtional support is required but a couple of minis, some threaded rod, and two watchamacallits tapconned to the concrete would be better than none at all.
 
I have a simple suggestion on how to support it, this may not be code compliant, if it isnt please jump in with a code reference...

How about joining 2 minis back to back and make a spacer out of a short piece of pvc conduit and a long screw or a piece of allthread and a couple nuts?
 
raider1 said:
Did you take into account thermal expansion in accordance with 352.44?

Chris
Click to expand...

I agree Chris that thermal expansion could be a problem. Even if expansion fittings were installed a mini is not designed to allow the pvc to expand and contract. A listed pvc strap will allow the raceway to slide back and forth with the temperature changes.
 
raider1 said:
Did you take into account thermal expansion in accordance with 352.44?

Chris
Click to expand...


The design was a last minute change and I did have my codebook to double check, nor an expansion fitting. I installed it hoping for the best, not believing it would be a real issue.

John25 said:
I know it is already done, but I would have rolled the offset up so it touched the plumbing pvc.
Click to expand...

We looked at that option before it was strapped and just did not like the look of it. Rolled it up, rolled it down, nothing.
 
360Youth said:
The design was a last minute change and I did have my codebook to double check, nor an expansion fitting. I installed it hoping for the best, not believing it would be a real issue.

.
Click to expand...

North Carolina, Seasonal temperature changes.... it will be :grin:
Take a look at it a year from now:smile: (if it passes inspection as is)
 
360Youth said:
The design was a last minute change and I did have my codebook to double check, nor an expansion fitting. I installed it hoping for the best, not believing it would be a real issue.



We looked at that option before it was strapped and just did not like the look of it. Rolled it up, rolled it down, nothing.
Click to expand...

Not that bad looking. You could have used 2 coupling and shortened the bend to get closer but really not big deal. Seen far worse.
 
Looks good but I would have supported it.

Someday, somebody is going to step on it.

Metal support will rust and wood support will rot, so I use short pieces of PVC and appropriate straps.



And....I don't think you WANT to get close to the plumbing. Somebody may have to do work there someday.
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
Not that bad looking. You could have used 2 coupling and shortened the bend to get closer but really not big deal. Seen far worse.
Click to expand...

If you were conserned about how tight the saddle was to the obstruction (Im not saying there is anything wrong with how it looks) the way to fix PVC would be to just heat it back up and open up all the kicks just a hair, I hate using fittings on PVC if it can be avoided.
 
ultramegabob said:
If you were conserned about how tight the saddle was to the obstruction (Im not saying there is anything wrong with how it looks) the way to fix PVC would be to just heat it back up and open up all the kicks just a hair, I hate using fittings on PVC if it can be avoided.
Click to expand...

Yes but that would be 1 more trip to shop. Not sure why he did not bring heat gun. Extra fittings look just as bad. Support it somehow and let it fly.
 
Thom,

Looks like you have a couple inches off the finished grade. Get a 12" piece of 2" or doulble up 1-5/8" unitrut and ancor it to the concrete with conduit clip, then you will have your support below. I don't think the area you are in will see much expansion from earth and the area it shaded. Or use 1-1/2" RGS coupling with mini and anchor that into concrete that might give you the height for level support.
 
Finally got to the support in. I lean more to the point that there is no specific requirement for it, but I feel better with it in. It did make a world of difference the strength of the conduit. More so than I expected.


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