Damp location?

[e57]

I had this job re-inspected and a different inspector came out. The first one is an unpleasant man with whom you can discuss nothing. The 2nd one explained that Denver has basically made an arbitrary ruling about how to handle this situation. It is not written anywhere but they will allow NM to enter an enclosure but not to pass through anything else. We pointed out to him that if you go to the UL site it states that the conductors are essentially THHN (thermoplastic, nylon, heat) and questioned why a stripped cable, which is now essentially a set of THHN conductors, was not allowed to pass through. He stated that if we could get the UL spec's along with the manufacturer's spec's that they (at least he) would take this into consideration in the future.

It seems that even a largish city like Denver still plays the game of "it's not in the book this way but...."

IF you're on the '08 cycle there seems to be little chance out of it. But with '05 you would have a fighting chance in the very least IMO. The NM manufactures are pretty silent about what the conductor insulation actually is - and it seems high time they did something about that... The last time I looked into it - the particular manufacturer I was picking on at the time was using MTW (Machine Tool Wire) - Not sure if you're willing to fight it further - but it may be a good thing just to find out what brand the NM is, and what the insulation is on it.

 

[LarryFine]

Within that raceway, THHN should be used.

... then THHN is used throughout the exterior EMT raceway ...

Actually, there needs to be a W in the type, such as THWN or dual-rated THHN/THWN.

 

[LJSMITH1]

Actually, there needs to be a W in the type, such as THWN or dual-rated THHN/THWN.

Yep...the tricky "W" type..

 

[rcarroll]

As you know, NM is not allowed in raceway, unless the run is short and for damage protection.quote]
See the '08 NEC 334.12(A)(1) exception.

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

Is there any location in FLORIDA that is not damp ? How do we arrive at what is damp or not ? What amount of humidity makes it damp ?

 

[LJSMITH1]

As you know, NM is not allowed in raceway, unless the run is short and for damage protection.quote]
See the '08 NEC 334.12(A)(1) exception.

Don't you mean '08 334.15 (B)? It says' "Cable shall be protected from physical damage Where Necessary by rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, EMT conduit , Sch 80 PVC conduit or other approved means." I interpret that as a limited run in the area that the NM may be susceptible to damage.

 

[rcarroll]

Don't you mean '08 334.15 (B)? It says' "Cable shall be protected from physical damage Where Necessary by rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, EMT conduit , Sch 80 PVC conduit or other approved means." I interpret that as a limited run in the area that the NM may be susceptible to damage.

1st. the code does not prohibit romex in pipe, (excluding 334.12(B)
2nd. the code section I gave you would allow you to wire a type 1 or 2 building in romex if it were installed in raceways.

 

[LJSMITH1]

1st. the code does not prohibit romex in pipe, (excluding 334.12(B)
2nd. the code section I gave you would allow you to wire a type 1 or 2 building in romex if it were installed in raceways.

I understand. I was looking at it a bit differently, based on comments from inspectors in other jurisdictions who may not be on the '08 code cycle. The Type I and II exception is new for 2008.