Existing Al Wiring

[pierre]

I recently found this situation in a condominium.
the unit was originally built in 1969. It was wired with aluminum wire. There was an extensive renovation where the walls were exposed and new copper wiring was installed. The work was very well done. The one thing I noticed was that 11 of the original aluminum 'homeruns' were not changed to copper, but were still aluminum.
Would you consider this an NEC violation?

The reason I was there is this condo group has had NUMEROUS fires in the last year. I was hired to inspect wiring in 15 units and then come up with an alternative wiring method to satisfy the insurance company. The choices are 1. all new wiring. 2. the Ideal Twister wirenut pigtailing. 3. Copper Lum Tailing by Amp(not too sure of the spelling)
There are several units which have already had the various methods installed.

Pierre

 

[bennie]

Re: Existing Al Wiring

Pierre: Is there evidence that the fires are a result of the aluminum wiring?

 

[ron]

Re: Existing Al Wiring

If the aluminum wiring is protected within its ampacity, then no foul, no penalty, no violation.
If you needed to recommend a splice method to new copper, the http://catalog.tycoelectronics.com/TE/bin/TE.Connect?C=11134&F=0&M=CINF&GIID=0&LG=1&I=13&RQS=C~11134^M~FEAT^G~G

 

[flightline]

Re: Existing Al Wiring

I'm sure it's been posted before but this link to the Ideal Twister shows them to be problematic as well. You might want to investigate this information if you have not already done so.

 

[pierre]

Re: Existing Al Wiring

Bennie
4 0f the 5 fires were related to the original aluminum terminations (not the Copperlum or the Ideal Twister wirenuts), one was from a very old bath exhaust/ heater fan.

My question was really about the new work done. If the renovation included the entire unit, should not the aluminum HR's have been eliminated and installed with copper wire like the rest of the work was?


I spoke with a representative of The Underwriters Lab, and he said as of Feb 2003 they did not have one reported failure of any Ideal Twister wirenuts in 7 years.
If you were to look a little further into the report online that you have posted, I believe you might be surprised in how old it is, and how and by whom the report was performed by. Also you can go to Ideal's site to see their response to the report.(not that one can always trust the manufacturer's translation) I am trying to stay neutral on this.
Pierre

[ July 14, 2003, 03:16 PM: Message edited by: pierre ]