Abandoning residential conductor in place NEC reference?

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Bill NC

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I would greatly appreciate help finding the NEC reference for abandoning a conductor (Romex) in place.

From a thread on another forum I did read: Code Bulletin (12-25-1) "Abandoned wiring shall be properly terminated, or removed. Wiring that is concealed and inaccessible shall be cut off where exposed so as to be too short to be re-used." But I cannot trace this back to the NEC.

I want to specify how this should be handled in a subcontract, and verify this with my inspector before work commences.

Thanks,

Bill NC
 
There is nothing in the NEC that I know about that would require Romex (nm cable) to be removed when not being used
 
Bill NC said:
I would greatly appreciate help finding the NEC reference for abandoning a conductor (Romex) in place.

From a thread on another forum I did read: Code Bulletin (12-25-1) "Abandoned wiring shall be properly terminated, or removed. Wiring that is concealed and inaccessible shall be cut off where exposed so as to be too short to be re-used." But I cannot trace this back to the NEC.

I want to specify how this should be handled in a subcontract, and verify this with my inspector before work commences.

Thanks,

Bill NC
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I found a reference that is is a Canadian requirement:

"Here's part of OESC (Ontario Electrical Safety Code...basically the CEC+Ontario amendments and changes) code bulletin 12-25-1"

http://home.cogeco.ca/~navyguypics/Unused Wiring.pdf
 
Dennis, iwire, dkidd, thanks for your feedback. Much appreciated. At the junction box that the conductor originates from what would constitute "too short to be reused"? I would assume that the conductors would still need wire nuts, right?

Bill NC
 
Bill NC said:
Dennis, iwire, dkidd, thanks for your feedback. Much appreciated. At the junction box that the conductor originates from what would constitute "too short to be reused"? I would assume that the conductors would still need wire nuts, right?

Bill NC
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The NEC doesn't require wirenuts, tape, tags or anything else for abandoned Chapter 3 wiring methods.
 
Bill NC said:
Dennis, iwire, dkidd, thanks for your feedback. Much appreciated. At the junction box that the conductor originates from what would constitute "too short to be reused"? I would assume that the conductors would still need wire nuts, right?

Bill NC
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If they are not connected to a live source nothing would be needed.

Roger
 
The problem you may run into with abandoned NM (or anything else) is that it's often half-demo'd, not supported properly, and a million other code violations that an inspector is going to notice when looking at what has been done (mostly crawlspaces and basements). Proving it is abandoned may be more effort than cutting it out and scrapping it.

Only accessible portions of abandoned Chapter 8 wiring has be removed by code (8*0.26) anyway. tmk, here is nothing in chapter 3 or elsewhere requiring the removal of chapter 3 installations if they are abandoned. But if it is abandoned, we usually cut it flush with the back of box and push it out.
 
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