xformer
Senior Member
- Location
- Dallas, Tx
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
In article 362 of the NEC, ENT is not permitted to be used in Theaters. Can someone shed some light on why this is the case?
ENT - Uses not permitted
- Thread starter xformer
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Read the entire Section (including references). It is not totally prohibited (allowed in non-fire rated construction). Theaters and Places of Assembly (Art 518) basically require metallic raceways.
Unsure if that is more for protection of conductors or reaction to flame..possibly both.
Unsure if that is more for protection of conductors or reaction to flame..possibly both.
Last edited:
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
See 520.5(A).
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
This does not explain why, just prohibits it. I suspect like many things someone thought it was a good idea and somehow it ended up in the code.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Yeah, that just tells you why it is in 362, but does not address the reason that it is in 520.
It is about the products of combustion when there is a fire. The articles that cover occupancies with a large number of people all have restrictions on the use of non-metallic wiring methods.
Not really an issue in my opinion, but part of the long time code fights between metal wiring methods and non-metallic wiring methods. Proposals from the metal people to prohibit non-metallic wiring methods and proposals from the non-metallic side to require a wire type EGC in metal raceways.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
And a note. ENT is hard to pull through and od is larger than mc or ac,if you are drilling studs.
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
I have found using a nylon fishtape makes a big difference, and tight strapping, but yeah, steel fishtapes and Smurf tube don’t work well together.
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