Threaded bushings

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pedro1200

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Electrician
If the code book now requires you to officially have a bushing on your conduit before pulling cable ( ending the debate. Are split bushings still allowed without making the argument that a code violation was installed?
 
If you're using something like a Super-tugger to pull in large conductors you would remove the bushings if they were already installed. The idea is that the conductor do not get damaged. Even when the bushings are installed prior to a pull they often get damaged or broken resulting in the need for a split-bushing. Just because an inspector may see a split bushing does not mean that it wasn't installed prior to the pull.
 
My understanding is you don’t remove the bushing, removing it defeats its purpose plus the code doesn’t say remove it to pull wire and then reinstall. I can see who the argument can be made either way
 
pedro1200 said:
My understanding is you don’t remove the bushing, removing it defeats its purpose plus the code doesn’t say remove it to pull wire and then reinstall. I can see who the argument can be made either way
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There are pulling scenarios where the bushing must be removed. At the end of the day the NEC is just trying to protect the conductors during installation. So are you suggesting that spilt-bushings are a violation?
 
infinity said:
There are pulling scenarios where the bushing must be removed. At the end of the day the NEC is just trying to protect the conductors during installation. So are you suggesting that spilt-bushings are a violation?
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If we go by the code book imo a split bushing should not be used.
 
Im just going by what it says in the code. Im just asking questions I didn’t write the code
 
pedro1200 said:
Im just going by what it says in the code. Im just asking questions I didn’t write the code
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Questions are good they can lead to an interesting discussion. However you didn't answer my last question. If a bushing is damaged during a pull are you going to pull out all of the wire with the damaged bushing in place, install a new bushing and then pull it all back in again or just install a split-bushing? Pull the wire out with the damaged bushing installed could damage the conductors.
 
But i also didn’t write that……. So it doesn’t matter what i would do as an individual otherwise we can say that about any article and any section in the code. See my point
 
pedro1200 said:
Im just going by what it says in the code. Im just asking questions I didn’t write the code
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The 2023 code is the only time the code has had language saying the bushing had to be in place before you pulled the conductors, and I did write that code.

It has been a long standing discussion and my PI was to get clarity. However, as Rob said, there is pulling equipment that requires the bushing to be removed to pull the conductors. I had a PC for an exception, but the language requiring the bushing to be installed before pulling the conductors will not appear in the 2026 code.
This change was made in a reject but see action to my public comment to add an exception. The panel statement for SR-7526 that deleted the 2023 language requiring the bushing first said:
The language requiring the conductors to be protected prior to installation is deleted because it is unnecessarily restrictive and creates challenges with the use of some mechanical pulling equipment. The code text without this language adequately accomplishes the requirement for protection of conductors during and after installation.
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It is interesting that the panel rejected a PI that would have removed "prior to the installation of conductors" with a panel statement that said:
The requirement for bushings to be installed prior to the installation of conductors is to protect the conductors during installation. Damage to conductors can occur while the conductors are being installed.
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Based on the PI reject statement, it appears that they should have accepted my PC that would have added an exception.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
The 2023 code is the only time the code has had language saying the bushing had to be in place before you pulled the conductors, and I did write that code.

It has been a long standing discussion and my PI was to get clarity. However, as Rob said, there is pulling equipment that requires the bushing to be removed to pull the conductors. I had a PC for an exception, but the language requiring the bushing to be installed before pulling the conductors will not appear in the 2026 code.
This change was made in a reject but see action to my public comment to add an exception. The panel statement for SR-7526 that deleted the 2023 language requiring the bushing first said:


It is interesting that the panel rejected a PI that would have removed "prior to the installation of conductors" with a panel statement that said:


Based on the PI reject statement, it appears that they should have accepted my PC that would have added an exception.
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the way SR-7526 is written seems directly in line with your PC to add the exception
 
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