Code Bare Minimums

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kpepin

kpepin

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I was just wondering how many of you out (if given the choice) would do everything at the NEC bare minimum requirements.

Just some examples:

EMT conduit: Support it exactly every 10' or every 7' or 8'?

Receptacle in a house: Just what is required or a few extra in each room?

Conduit fill: Install 4 #6 THHN in a 3/4" EMT because the code says it will fit or bump it up to a 1" because it will pull a little easier?

I'm just asking because I've always thought as the NEC is a bare minimum, that's all you have to do but nothing is stopping you from doing it just a little better.
 
Re: Code Bare Minimums

Not I. As a design engineer, I make sure I know what the client wants, and what the client is willing to pay for. Then I write my proposal with that agreement in mind. I am well aware, as are most members of this Forum, that the ?code minimums? will not be enough to make the client happy with the end product.
 
Re: Code Bare Minimums

I find that probably 90% of the time, the user/customer would not recognize the difference between a "code" installation and one that is more efficent or of better design. I find most customers are much more willing to pay for fixture and appliances upgrades, but could care less what "code" things that could be done to make the installation that much more safer or adequate for good service.

I feel a really good electrician can take what the code provides and make a really good installation without doing much more. I find most of the basics and fundementals aren't even done at a craftesman level in many cases even when the installer goes above and beyond the code. So basically, I feel one must master what is required first which in turn will allow them to determine what additional things can be done to make installations safer and better in the long run.
 
Re: Code Bare Minimums

When I was in the trade and was doing a home, I would take a marked up floor plan to the person that was paying me and show him what the Code required and then What I recommended and the additional costs for the additional receptacles and switches. Several builders turned down the extras and they didn't go in. Most of the time, the better builders and home owners would go for the extras.

I could not spent my profit to go beyond the Code requirements or I would have gone out of business. It would have been like telling someone that I want to work for free. :D
 
Re: Code Bare Minimums

Kpepin, the funny thing is, the examples you mention bring this into my mind: It's faster to add an outlet, it's faster to pull it in a 1/4" bigger pipe, it's faster in some cases to secure things closer than the code requirement, since if you're an inch over the inspector is justified in bringing you back to the job to resecure it! :)

To observe the 6 & 12 rule to a tee (which I have been indirectly told a time or two to do) would cost me up to half an hour sometimes, for what? A $.50 box and a buck's worth of romex? Yeah, right.

That's my perspective. :)
 
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