Eddy Current
Senior Member
Anybody know the code reference that mentions what to do with abandoned circuits? I remember seeing it in there before, but can't find it now.
Abandoned branch circuits code.
- Thread starter Eddy Current
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Massachusetts
Other than maybe Cellular Metal Floor Raceways and Cellular Concrete Floor Raceways I cant think of any.
Eddy Current
Senior Member
Seems like I remember something about abandoned circuits after removing receptacles.
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
Yea, that's in cellular metal raceways section.
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
The only other places in the code, besides what Iwire mentioned, that mentions abandoned cables or conductors is in Articles 640,645,725,760,770,820, and 830.
I had this discussion with an inspector that was trying to make me remove some unused/abandoned NM cables in a wall. I told him where the only places the code mentioned "abandoned". He had to call his boss to verify that I was correct.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
There is language somewhere in art 800 regarding abandoned communications cables, are you by chance thinking of that?
Eddy Current
Senior Member
The code I'm thinking of, I don't think it actually mentions the word abandoned. I believe it says something about not having to remove them, but having to isolate them from the source.
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
I was just answering how you worded your OP. You said abandoned.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
I don't believe that there is such a rule in the NEC.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
If they are still energized the general rules that would apply to conductors in use still apply, as in they should end in some enclosure, fitting, etc. and that enclosure should have cover(s) installed......
Eddy Current
Senior Member
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
In general - chapters 1-4.
If you have something energized or easily able to be energized it is not really abandoned and you would need to follow whatever section(s) that apply to what you have.
Eddy Current
Senior Member
I looked all through requirements for electrical installations and the receptacle section and couldn't find anything that mentions removing or abandoning circuits.
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kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
I did say if it is energized or can easily be energized that it isn't exactly "abandoned".
You found exactly what the NEC does say about abandoned circuits - nothing (that is for in general application, some have pointed out a very limited number of specific instances where something is mentioned on the topic, but only applies to those specific instances)
Eddy Current
Senior Member
I guess its one of those cases were the state exam asks a question that's not in the code book, like infinite ground I know that's not in there either. But I could have sworn I seen it in the code book when I took the test before.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
You may be thinking "redundant" ground. Which is not a term used by NEC, but many use that term to describe what is required from art 517.13(A) for health care facilities.
I don't like it when a NEC question on such an exam uses terms that are not used in the NEC, and think it is a little unfair to those taking the exam to use such terms.
Eddy Current
Senior Member
I found the abandoned code on communications wire in 800, the question on the test was similar to that, but it was talking about what to do with abandoned circuits after you remove a receptacle.
DavJ09
Member
- Location
- Portland, OR, USA
I just took an exam and it said, "the jurisdiction with permission having authority to ..." why couldn't they just put in AHJ!
-- (tapatalk!)
Michael15956
Senior Member
- Location
- NE Ohio
Just for the fun of it Kwired, and if you want to, what section of Chapters 1-4 would be violated if a live wire/cable is left abandoned inside the bay of a wall? I could be wrong and off hand, I don't think the NEC requires it to be terminated.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
It doesn't necessarily have to be terminated, but it would still be required to be in a chapter 3 wiring method, one suitable for the conditions it is subjected to, would require covers for boxes, wireways, or other enclosing methods.
You can't just take away a luminaire, remove a receptacle, or other equipment and just leave exposed live conductors, they are not considered abandoned if they are still able to be energized. If you remove a luminaire, pull a supply cable out of the source but otherwise leave the cable in place - that cable is no longer a NEC concern and you can do whatever you want with it. You likely need to seal the hole where you removed that cable from in a way that complies with NEC, but the abandoned portion of the cable is no longer an NEC covered component. Leave it connected to the source and it is still under NEC.
I said chapter 1-4 because the sections that apply will depend on exactly what it is that was abandoned.
Even abandoned raceways are not abandoned if still connected to equipment that is not abandoned. Spare raceways out of an enclosure can't be left open they need to end in another enclosure or be effectively capped.
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