Back to the Electrical Tape

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Ssobel

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20170515_104034.jpg20170515_101526 (1).jpg20170515_104134.jpgI have scoured for hours looking for the "black & white" answer. Its not there, so I turn to all of you. I am a Safety Specialist for the DoD on a Navy Installation. I was inspecting the Marina and found all the flexible cables coming out of the distribution box going to the floating piers to be damaged. The outer sheathing is completely cracked and exposing the conductors. The labeling is rubbed off, but it looks like SO Cable and I'm sure it's 'W' rated and installed properly. When I returned from our long weekend to take a second look, I noticed someone had used electrical tape (not friction, not super 88) to cover all the damaged sheathing. I am almost certain this isn't legal, but I can't find a specific reference. Art 555 doesn't cover repairs. yes I get it, all i might have to say it, "it's damaged, replace it". But at the moment, since a band-aid has been put into play, I need to prove to them why the tape isn't legal. Can anyone help? I can't use the 29 CFR 1926 because this isn't construction.
 
What I find interesting is that the outer sheath is failing along the imprinted identification info. It would seem the imprinting process created a weakness/stress concentration in the sheath.
 
K8MHZ said:
In the condition the cable is in, it is no longer as listed. The outer sheath has become useless and has been replaced by tape. Tape is not a Chapter 3 approved wiring means.
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While I completely agree...I don't know of anywhere in Chapter 3 that specifically says you cannot use electrical tape for repairs. I might just have to say that it doesn't say you "can" do it either.
 
gadfly56 said:
What I find interesting is that the outer sheath is failing along the imprinted identification info. It would seem the imprinting process created a weakness/stress concentration in the sheath.
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Yes, that is interesting. I will point out that the requirements for jacket wall thickness do no provide for a reduced thickness in the area of indent printing. The entire jacket must meet the UL requirements for minimum average and minimum thickness. That aside, the area within the indent print would still be thinner than other areas. Or I suppose you could look at it as the thickness in the area of indent printing meets UL and all the other areas are thicker.
 
electrical tape is actually listed as a means of repairing conductor insulation IIRC.

I am not sure I have a problem with repairing the conductors so much as whether conductors with appropriate insulation were used in the first place.
 
petersonra said:
electrical tape is actually listed as a means of repairing conductor insulation IIRC.

I am not sure I have a problem with repairing the conductors so much as whether conductors with appropriate insulation were used in the first place.
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I guess that would be the 6 million dollar question Bob...is it the right cable. I will need to go back and find markings that aren't destroyed. I'd like to believe the contractor who put this stuff in, would have followed the NEC at the time of installation.
 
Ssobel said:
I guess that would be the 6 million dollar question Bob...is it the right cable. I will need to go back and find markings that aren't destroyed. I'd like to believe the contractor who put this stuff in, would have followed the NEC at the time of installation.
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Since no cable is NEC approved to be installed where subject to physical damage, and the cable is obviously physically damaged, it was the wrong cable.
 
Ssobel said:
I guess that would be the 6 million dollar question Bob...is it the right cable. I will need to go back and find markings that aren't destroyed. I'd like to believe the contractor who put this stuff in, would have followed the NEC at the time of installation.
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Having said that, it is possible this installation does not meet code anyway, given the use of cable in lieu of a proper raceway.

ARTICLE 555—MARINAS AND BOATYARDS
***
555.13 Wiring Methods and Installation.
***
(2) Portable Power Cables. Extra-hard usage portable
power cables rated not less than 167°F (75°C), 600 volts;
listed for both wet locations and sunlight resistance; and
having an outer jacket rated to be resistant to temperature
extremes, oil, gasoline, ozone, abrasion, acids, and chemicals
shall be permitted as follows:
(1) As permanent wiring on the underside of piers (floating
or fixed)
(2) Where flexibility is necessary as on piers composed of
floating sections
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It does not appear to me that this is under the pier.

There are some additional requirements found in 555.13(B)(4)(5) if you try to invoke the flexibility option.

However, I am not an expert in marina wiring by any stretch of the imagination.
 
petersonra said:
Having said that, it is possible this installation does not meet code anyway, given the use of cable in lieu of a proper raceway.



It does not appear to me that this is under the pier.

There are some additional requirements found in 555.13(B)(4)(5) if you try to invoke the flexibility option.

However, I am not an expert in marina wiring by any stretch of the imagination.
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I agree with everything you have written here. I don't know what year the wiring was installed on the marina, so I cannot go back and say they did or did not do it properly in conduit. It obviously will have to be redone in conduit from now on. The sad thing is, that I am having to find justification to a government organization as to why electrical tape is not a viable option until New wiring can be installed

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The damage in the pictures is jacket breakdown due to the UV exposure from sunlight. The marking on the cable jacket (either directly i.e "SUN RES", "SUNLIGHT RESISTANT", or indirectly by the TYPE) will tell you if they are sunlight resistant. Simply because they are showing UV breakdown doesn't mean they were the wrong type. Even cables that are marked SUN RES have a limit.
 
1926.403(a) requires that "all electrical conductors and equipment shall be approved." This standard is generally interpreted to mean that you can't use conductors if their characteristics are significantly altered. Nothing about tape puts those cords back to their original state. There MAY be some types of "repair sleeves" that are listed for this purpose, but that will generally be specific to certain insulation systems. Generally those are heat shrink type products and would likely not be valid for flexible cables because they would change the flexing capability, and in doing so result in the internal conductors being stressed where the heat shrink stops (I've run up against this before).

Then...

1926.416(e)(1) provides that "worn or frayed electrical cords or cables shall not be used."

There is nothing there that then overrides that if you cover up the damage with standard electrical tape.

But...

1926.405(g)(2)(iii) states that "flexible cords shall be used only in continuous lengths without splice or tap. Hard service flexible cords No. 12 or larger may be repaired if spliced so that the splice retains the insulation, outer sheath properties, and usage characteristics of the cord being spliced." So IF there were some sort of listed splice or repair system for that specific cable that possessed the EXACT SAME characteristics of the original cable, it COULD be used. but 33+ electrical tape, no.
 
Ssobel said:
I agree with everything you have written here. I don't know what year the wiring was installed on the marina, so I cannot go back and say they did or did not do it properly in conduit. It obviously will have to be redone in conduit from now on. The sad thing is, that I am having to find justification to a government organization as to why electrical tape is not a viable option until New wiring can be installed

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
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I think the answer is likely that short of turning off the power, electrical tape is your only answer until such time as it gets replaced.
 
Ssobel said:
While I completely agree...I don't know of anywhere in Chapter 3 that specifically says you cannot use electrical tape for repairs. I might just have to say that it doesn't say you "can" do it either.
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there is a fix, and i believe it's UL listed, but given the cost of the
repair material, and the extent of your damaged cables.... i don't
think i'd opt for it.

however, here it is:

https://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal...-2234-2-in-x-6-ft?N=5427287+3294756324&rt=rud

at it's application:

http://images.salsify.com/image/upload/s--KItv9g_m--/yvec0lhqyidpjljej0rn.pdf

imho, as it's a 3M product, on that alone it merits a look see.....
 
Thank you all for your advice. After multiple conversations with people who make ALOT more money than me...it has been determined that a bid package will be put together to replace all the cable at the marina and put it all in conduit. Of course this will take months, and in the interim, Super 88 tape will be the band-aid. While I agree, it's not necessarily approved, it's the only way to keep the Marine open and the Admirals who have personal boats down there from losing their minds!
 
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