1995 NEC question.

[JLottes]

I have run across a situation that has me puzzled.
In 1995 a single family dwelling had a heavy up from a 30A 6 Circuit fuse box to a 200A 24 circuit breaker panel. Panel itself installation was completed & was signed off on by a Master Electrician & an Inspector.
Problem: I found that whoever installed the wires in the panel had put 8ft to 10ft romex "pigtails" to metal junction boxes in the attic. Some of these junction boxes were closed off & marked, some left open, some unmarked and buried in the blown in cellulose insulation. Some of these connections were made without the benefit of a junction box at all. I know this is not Code & not my question. The Romex pigtails were wire nutted to "Old type" BX wire. The rest of the house is wired with the Old BX, except where I've found & replaced it. 3 Circuits so far.
So my questions are:
In 1995 was the "Old style" (Fabric & Rubber insulation, not plastic) BX allowed to be cut back to a pliable insulation spot & put back in service, or was it supposed to be removed from service if disturbed?
If this were your job would you bring this to an Inspectors attention?
What about the Electrician?
Thanx
Clear Dark Skies
John
39.138274 -77.168898

 

[iwire]

I am closing this thread, in accordance with the Forum Rules.

This site is designed for:

• Contractors
• Electricians
• Engineers
• Inspectors
• Instructors
• Other electrically related individuals

* This NEC? Forum is for those in the electrical and related industries. Questions of a "How-To" nature by persons not involved in the electrical industry will be removed without notice.

 

[JLottes]

1995 NEC question.

1995 NEC question.

Thread reopened, Bump

I have run across a situation that has me puzzled.
In 1995 a single family dwelling had a heavy up from a 30A 6 Circuit fuse box to a 200A 24 circuit breaker panel. Panel itself installation was completed & was signed off on by a Master Electrician & an Inspector.
Problem: I found that whoever installed the wires in the panel had put 8ft to 10ft romex "pigtails" to metal junction boxes in the attic. Some of these junction boxes were closed off & marked, some left open, some unmarked and buried in the blown in cellulose insulation. Some of these connections were made without the benefit of a junction box at all. I know this is not Code & not my question. The Romex pigtails were wire nutted to "Old type" BX wire. The rest of the house is wired with the Old BX, except where I've found & replaced it. 3 Circuits so far.
So my questions are:
In 1995 was the "Old style" (Fabric & Rubber insulation, not plastic) BX allowed to be cut back to a pliable insulation spot & put back in service, or was it supposed to be removed from service if disturbed?
If this were your job would you bring this to an Inspectors attention?
What about the Electrician?
Thanx
Clear Dark Skies
John
39.138274 -77.168898

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Bx was and is allowed to be used however the old BX (ac cable) that does not have the aluminum or steel bonding strip is not allowed to be used as an equipment grounding conductor. If you refeed the circuit with NM then I don't see the issue as it is existing.


BTW welcome to the forum and who are you with the powers of a mod???? LOL

 

[JLottes]

Bx was and is allowed to be used however the old BX (ac cable) that does not have the aluminum or steel bonding strip is not allowed to be used as an equipment grounding conductor. If you refeed the circuit with NM then I don't see the issue as it is existing.


BTW welcome to the forum and who are you with the powers of a mod???? LOL

Thanx,
I thought that the old style BX was disallowed because it dried out, the insulation became brittle & failed when disturbed.

My biggest issue is that the connections made were so horribly bad, open junction boxes full of cellulose insulation, NM wire nutted to the BX then dropped into cellulose insulation, BX & MN twisted together, taped then dropped in the insulation, bare wires showing. The worst one was where the bond was wrapped down the outside of the BX, & the conductors were just twisted together. I don't know why it didn't burn. A really bad situation.

I asked a reasonable question, it got shut down. I updated my profile to show I wasn't a newb, the thread got reopened. I should've had my profile right to start with.

John

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Usually the cable only dries out badly where it is exposed in a jb esp. with a light attached to it. If it is that bad that you can't strip it then it would need to be replaced. I guess that would depend on the load that was on the conductors.

You can still wire to K&T wiring