jeff48356
Senior Member
- Location
- Livonia, Michigan
How long has the EMT requirement been in place for houses in Chicago? Are there any houses in the city that were wired with NM cable? Does this apply to the suburbs or just the city itself?
EMT Requirement in Chicago
- Thread starter jeff48356
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
My understanding is the Chicago Electrical Code area extends just to Cook county. The suburbs in the neighboring counties, like Lake, follow the NEC instead.
texie
Senior Member
- Location
- Fort Collins, Colorado
- Occupation
- Electrician, Contractor, Inspector
Speaking of Chicago, it was my understanding that they have a rule that prohibits outside service disconnects. They gonna write this out of the 2020 edition for homes?
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
Do they sell NM cable and accessories in big box stores in those areas that require metal conduits?
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
Chicago does not update their code on a regular basis. I believe they had their previous code edition for almost 20 years.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
The Chicago Electrical Code only applies to Chicago itself, however many of the suburbs in the area, including ones outside of Cook County require EMT for dwelling units.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Their rule in 230.70(A) for the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code says:
I am not sure when they will make another update. There was around 20 years between the current one and the previous one.
The current one is a heavily revised version of the 2017 NEC. There were about 150 pages of amendments to the 2017 NEC to create the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code. The Chicago code is now published by the NFPA and can be purchased from them. The older codes were published locally and only available from the publisher, and even had advertising in the.
electrofelon
Senior Member
- Location
- Cherry Valley NY, Seattle, WA
When did EMT come out? That is a relatively newer product correct? 60's?
EMT originated in the '60's?!?!!? More like the '20s. In the 1928 NEC, EMT is Article 508.
electrofelon
Senior Member
- Location
- Cherry Valley NY, Seattle, WA
I have some recollection of EMT coming in mid century, I guess I am mistaken. I don't recall seeing EMT in any installations older than early 60's.
Coppersmith
Senior Member
- Location
- Tampa, FL, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
How is EMT run in wood framed single family homes? Seems like running horizontal through studs would be difficult. Is every outlet dropped from the attic? Are all houses built with open web beams between floors? No j-boxes would be allowed in this enclosed space so everything has to be up and down to outlets. How much does all this EMT add to the price of a house? Inquiring minds want to know.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- Semi-retired engineer
Fairly recently people have claimed that the EMT requirement has to do with rats. Chicago is pretty much overrun by rats, both four-legged and two-legged.
The best I can tell the requirement was put in without the city caring anything at all about rats. It had to do with making it cost more so that contractors and especially unions would have a heads up against non-union contractors. The idea that it had anything to do about rats was much later.
A fair number of close-by suburbs including some that are not all that close also require EMT.
I think you are allowed to fish Romex if it's a repair or remodel job and it's impractical to do EMT.
The best I can tell the requirement was put in without the city caring anything at all about rats. It had to do with making it cost more so that contractors and especially unions would have a heads up against non-union contractors. The idea that it had anything to do about rats was much later.
A fair number of close-by suburbs including some that are not all that close also require EMT.
I think you are allowed to fish Romex if it's a repair or remodel job and it's impractical to do EMT.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
I've always been under the impression the requirement was based on fire concerns.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- Semi-retired engineer
I don't think it was ever an actual rule in Rockford. But some of the inspectors claimed it was and would tell homeowners that when they applied for permits. Just another reason to avoid permits.
dielectricunion
Member
- Location
- Bloomington IN
Yep- last time I checked they sold NM at home depot and I had a friend who moved from CA and did some work on his place without permits and his first remodel he scabbed in a bunch of romex. I was by no means doing a lot of work when I lived in Chicago but in any old houses or buildings I was in, all original electrical was run in rigid conduit with asphalt/cloth cable or individual cloth conductors. I've never seen NM cable besides early 2000's hack-ins
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My brother in law lived in a house there built in the 70s. Original wiring was all EMT. He thought it was a requirement, but I wouldn’t bet money on it!
oldsparky52
Senior Member
- Location
- Wilmington, NC USA
texie
Senior Member
- Location
- Fort Collins, Colorado
- Occupation
- Electrician, Contractor, Inspector
I grew up in Miami-Dade county (Florida). Up until about the early 70s all residential was in EMT. This was part of the old South Florida Building Code which is now long gone. Since everybody piped most were pretty good and quick at piping in wood framing. In many walls you can notch to lay in the EMT. Since all our buildings were CBS on all exterior walls the EMT was strapped with "wrap" straps and cut nails so it would be just flush with furring strips. Back then the EMT was always used as the EGC. Piped houses are great when you want to do remodeling and alterations.
- Status