bob awerkamp said:
If romex is alowed in residential, and conduit is required in comercial, what about multipurpose buildings such as comercial below and residential above?
Does the NEC allow romex to be used for wiring the second floor apartments?
In our small town the local code guy does not know the answer.
Common misconceptions about both when it comes right to the NEC - you're local codes may vary....
You should check with your AHJ - They may have ammendments that supercede the state or NEC.
Example:
334.10. Revise this section as follows:
334.10. Uses permitted. Type NM, Type NMC, and Type NMS cables shall be permitted to be used in the following:
(1) One- and two-family dwellings,
(2) Multi-family dwellings permitted to be of Types III, IV, and V construction up to 4 stories in height except as prohibited by 334.12.
334.12(11). Add a new section as follows:
334.12(11).
(11) In any nonresidential structure or occupancy.
Other examples I have seen are through other codes that change building type for certain building use, and require non-combustable wiring methods to be used in them. i.e. metallic. Simularly require raceway methods, and ban PVC.
'what about multipurpose buildings such as commercial below and residential above?'
I have done some buildings that have the whole first floor commercial zoned as part of the mixed use and they get all metallic conduit and MC. Like-wise all of the stud work is tin... Then there is a concrete deck, and the next 3 floors
except for common areas, and FA - get romex. And the framing is wood.... Simularly, I have done first floor commercial, and the next 10 floors in MC and pipe because other local codes and building spec's change the building type often triggered by building hieght, and other codes dictated what was or could be installed.
IMO you should first check your adopted NEC (Code cycle?), then state for changes, and when-ever you even go to bid a project in a new town - go find out what they will or will not allow through other ammended codes before you sumbit the bid. 'Cause I know a few places you can get screwed in just by not bidding apples to apples - only to find out you just got the big bannana. A town to the south of me only allows metallic raceway methods in residential.....
My city wount allow flex longer than 6' - but that town you could run it by the thousand's, but no cable of any kind - each place has it's quirks.
Even the way certain codes are interpeted regionally can mean things won't be done the same.
