2nd opinion

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billman1

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Although I am inquiring about a Hospital installation I believe my question is just standard practice in any application.

A spec book asks for any run over 100 feet be installed in EMT with a minimum of #10 AWG. Drawings are requesting 15A branch circuits
throughout. Is it code to run #10 AWG the first 100 feet to a pull box and then continue with #12 armored cable to the receptacle locations all about the walls,floors and ceilings? I say no... but I can't convince anyone this comes under the 6' tap rule. Am I wrong?
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benaround
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Member # 15094

posted February 24, 2005 09:06 PM
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billman1,
As long as the branch c.b. is 15amp. you can do that all day long,although some members of this forum have stated that their local inspector made them run #10 thru-out the entire circuit?
frank
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Posts: 66 | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged |
 
Re: 2nd opinion

You can even drop as low as #14 at any point in the circuit.

What is the 6' tap rule, it is not an NEC rule.

Might you be confusing a length of FMC being recognized as an EGC, if so look at 250.118

You aren't using the armored cable on Critical or Life Safety Branches are you? If so you may have some real issues to attend to.

As a matter of fact, you would have to use HCFC (not AC) in the patient bed locations even for the Normal Branch.

Roger

[ February 24, 2005, 10:19 PM: Message edited by: roger ]
 
Re: 2nd opinion

Originally posted by billman1:
A spec book asks for any run over 100 feet be installed in EMT with a minimum of #10 AWG. Drawings are requesting 15A branch circuits
throughout. Is it code to run #10 AWG the first 100 feet to a pull box and then continue with #12 armored cable to the receptacle locations all about the walls,floors and ceilings? I say no... but I can't convince anyone this comes under the 6' tap rule. Am I wrong?
Click to expand...
Billman, please don't start a new thread with the same question. Use the first thread to get the second opinion. :)

NEC-2005 240.2 Definitions. Tap Conductors. As used in this article, a tap conductor is defined as a conductor, other than a service conductor, that has overcurrent protection ahead of it's point of supply that exceeds the value permitted for similar conductors that are protected as described elsewhere in 240.4.
Click to expand...
A #10 on a 15 amp breaker is not a tap conductor. There are no restrictions on this installation akin to what you are thinking. It's safe, it's excessively safe. Sleep well. :D
 
Re: 2nd opinion

Not my installation just observation.But yes HCFC is being used. I was refering to 210.19(d)
Exception 2: but applied length to tap. Misused.
But still never did or seen an application where
wire is changed smaller than original aside from feeder taps or fixtures.
 
Re: 2nd opinion

I think most people usually use the word "tap" to refer to a splice, or a place where power is taken from a conductor. But the NEC definition of a tap is a conductor that is not protected at its ampacity.

So if you start with #10 on a 15A breaker, and then splice and reduce it to #12 or #14, thats not a tap per the NEC.

But if it was a 20A breaker, and you started with #10 and spliced on #14, that would be a tap.

Steve
 
Re: 2nd opinion

Have done this in residential application 215 ft from panel to master bedroom , bath, den/office.This was a few years back when I was still in the field.Ran #10 nm to multigang box and wired in #14 in rooms,tagged the #10 to be fused at 15 amps.Inspector looked at it abit funny read the tag applied ,walked over to the permit board and signed it off :D But it was 11,000 sq, ft. and had a 600 amp k based bolt in meter base.should have seen the meter installers face when he walked up with a standard meter and there were no jaws to plug into ;) scratched his head got in his truck and drove away :confused:
 
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