conductor accessibility

[don_resqcapt19]

Are conductors considered accessible at conduit bodies?
Don

 

[luke warmwater]

Re: conductor accessibility

Well if they are, do you want 6" of slack ???

Don,
Since you very rarely post a question, where are you going with this?

 

[rbalex]

Re: conductor accessibility

I believe by definition they are a means of access to the conductors:

Conduit Body. A separate portion of a conduit or tubing system that provides access through a removable cover(s) to the interior of the system at a junction of two or more sections of the system or at a terminal point of the system.
Boxes such as FS and FD or larger cast or sheet metal boxes are not classified as conduit bodies.

In addition, Section 314.29 requires that they are also to be Accessible (as applied to wiring methods)enough to provide the access to the conductors.

Now you've piqued my interest too

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: conductor accessibility

Most of the sections of the code that permit the use of tape to "identify" or "re-identify" a conductor require that the identification be applied to the conductor at every point where the conductor is visible. I've never seen the conductors identified in a conduit body.
Don

 

[luke warmwater]

Re: conductor accessibility

We just recently pulled feeders into a condo unit.

There is an LB inside the crawlspace in each unit.

All of the neutrals and grounds are identified in each LB. One 'hot' was also identified.
I thought this was common practice.

We blow or suck string through. Then mark LB point on string. Then we pull rope through. Then we use string as marking guide for wires.

Man pulls at LB 'till he gets taped wires, then stays there to feed.
The longer the run, bigger the pipe, and # of 90's can obviously effect it though. But as long as we add the same amount to each end, we've never had a problem.

 

[volt101]

Re: conductor accessibility

Is the opposite of accessible considered inaccessible?

Let me REACH...

Concealed. Rendered inaccessible by the structure or finish of the building. Wires in concealed raceways are considered concealed, even though they may become accessible by withdrawing them.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: conductor accessibility

Wires in concealed raceways are considered concealed, even though they may become accessible by withdrawing them.

I don't think so.

Accessible (as applied to wiring methods). Capable of being removed or exposed without damaging the building structure or finish or not permanently closed in by the structure or finish of the building.

Don

 

[bphgravity]

Re: conductor accessibility

I believe that the codes allowance of splices, taps, and devices at conduit bodies (314.16(C)(2)) suggests that conductor identification should be made at these locations whether or not the splice or tap is made. Just as you are required to do at any other box or enclosure where terminations are made. I for one am a proponent of labeling and identifing of everything. In many cases I believe it is more of a safety standard than that of a design standard, though the code doesn't seem to agree.

I suppose the same question could apply to conductors passing through an enclosure or box without terminating in that box. I have never seen reidentifcation or other circuit labeling take place there either.

 

[sandsnow]

Re: conductor accessibility

My opinion is that the intent of the requirement for marking phase and system of conductors where accessible applies to places where those conductors could be connected to or spliced to. Or so that the electrician working the conductors had an idea of what they were dealing with.
To work conductors in a condelet(sp) you have to access an enclosure at one end at least, thereby identifying the conductors (by system) in the condelet.
Does anybody have history on this requirement?

 

[rbalex]

Re: conductor accessibility

I was on a foreign project that, for the most part, used the NEC. The locals discovered that bare or green conductors could be "safely" removed; and between conduit bodies was ideal for "harvesting" the copper. Many circuits operated, possibly for months, without anyone knowing the EGCs were missing.

Oddly enough, the local authority justified using only black, unidentified conductors as a safety measure.

 

[al hildenbrand]

Re: conductor accessibility

200.6 Means of Identifying Grounded Conductors.
(B) Sizes Larger Than 6 AWG.An insulated grounded conductor larger than 6 AWG shall be identified either by a continuous white or gray outer finish or by three continuous white stripes on other than green insulation along its entire length or at the time of installation by a distinctive white marking at its terminations.

250.119 Identification of Equipment Grounding Conductors.
(A) Conductors Larger Than 6 AWG.An insulated or covered conductor larger than 6 AWG copper or aluminum shall be permitted, at the time of installation, to be permanently identified as an equipment grounding conductor at each end and at every point where the conductor is accessible.

Don, I think you answered your initial question with the definition of Accessible.

 

[sandsnow]

Re: conductor accessibility

Originally posted by rbalex:


Oddly enough, the local authority justified using only black, unidentified conductors as a safety measure.

90-4 in action