Exposed UF installations

[Mr. Spinosa]

I am taking a code update course for 2014 and I came across something that made me re-think what I thought about UF wire installations. - Can you run UF cable exposed on the outside of a building (no conduit) if it is not subject to physical damage? Article 225.10 (2014 NEC) seems to permit this... Have I been wrong about the use of UF? I thought it could not be run exposed on the outside of a structure. (I do mostly residential work and I have been under the impression that any time UF was run on the outside of a home or structure it was not supposed to be done that way.)

 

[PetrosA]

If it's sunlight resistant UF, then you can run it exposed where not subject to physical damage. Would I let you do that on my house? No.

 

[ActionDave]

Sure it's allowed if it is sunlight resistant.

225.10 Wiring on Buildings
The installation of outside wiring on surfaces of buildings
shall be permitted for circuits of not over 600 volts,....(cut through the blah, blah, blah).., as Type UF....

I agree with PetrosA though, unless I am the one who does it on my own house because I know I will do right when I get a chance... I just needed to get a circuit that would run the air conditioner...don't judge.

 

[kwired]

Sure it's allowed if it is sunlight resistant.


I agree with PetrosA though, unless I am the one who does it on my own house because I know I will do right when I get a chance... I just needed to get a circuit that would run the air conditioner...don't judge.

Agreed, don't judge. If not subject to physical abuse it is acceptable code wise. It may or may not look better then running a raceway, the customer may or may not want you to do it the least expensive way possible. Some may not care how it looks as long as they have power at whatever it supplies, others will want the death sentence for you if you expose any wiring method at all.

 

[iwire]

It depends.

If the UF happens to come up out of the ground and onto the building it can't be exposed below 8'.

300.5(D)(1) Emerging from Grade. Direct-buried conductors and cables emerging from grade and specified in columns 1 and 4 of Table 300.5 shall be protected by enclosures or race-ways extending from the minimum cover distance below grade required by 300.5(A) to a point at least 2.5 m (8 ft) above finished grade. In no case shall the protection be required to exceed 450 mm (18 in.) below finished grade.'

On the other hand if the cable is not emerging from grade only the standard 'not where subject to damage' rules apply

 

[rlundsrud]

subject to damage

subject to damage

My only concern would be the potential for litigation if something goes wrong. I always err on the side of caution. If it is exposed I would consider it "subject to damage". For example a rodent could chew on the insulation. I wouldn't give a homeowner the choice as you are opening yourself up being liable.

Bob

 

[kwired]

It depends.

If the UF happens to come up out of the ground and onto the building it can't be exposed below 8'.



On the other hand if the cable is not emerging from grade only the standard 'not where subject to damage' rules apply

And if you can consider it "not subject to damage" you can run it all the way around a structure only 2 inches above grade, but make one turn that makes it go below grade and then all of it must be protected - according to how it is worded.

 

[iwire]

My only concern would be the potential for litigation if something goes wrong. I always err on the side of caution. If it is exposed I would consider it "subject to damage". For example a rodent could chew on the insulation. I wouldn't give a homeowner the choice as you are opening yourself up being liable.

Bob

I understand people from Chicago have a fear of NM cable but for many of us it is a daily install.

My home and the homes of 100s of 1,000s around me have NM cable (SE or SER) service conductors exposed on the sides of our homes.

 

[iwire]

And if you can consider it "not subject to damage" you can run it all the way around a structure only 2 inches above grade, but make one turn that makes it go below grade and then all of it must be protected - according to how it is worded.

I think you have a grasp of the point I was making.

 

[Mr. Spinosa]

thank you

thank you

It depends.

If the UF happens to come up out of the ground and onto the building it can't be exposed below 8'.



On the other hand if the cable is not emerging from grade only the standard 'not where subject to damage' rules apply

Thank you for the code reference!

 

[Mr. Spinosa]

Thank you

Thank you

Thanks for your answers. - I do see it sometimes run for exterior motion lights, etc. but for some reason I thought that you really were not supposed to do it that way.

 

[mopowr steve]

My only concern would be the potential for litigation if something goes wrong. I always err on the side of caution. If it is exposed I would consider it "subject to damage". For example a rodent could chew on the insulation. I wouldn't give a homeowner the choice as you are opening yourself up being liable.

Bob

Don't think that wiring inside a building behind walls isn't chewed by rodents?

 

[RLyons]

Don't think that wiring inside a building behind walls isn't chewed by rodents?

Come to think of it how come I have yet to see service seu cable chewed? uf/nm cable is usually the victim :?

 

[kwired]

Come to think of it how come I have yet to see service seu cable chewed? uf/nm cable is usually the victim :?

Have you tried chewing on both to see which one tastes better?:lol:

SE cable is generally larger diameter - so it may mean you need a larger rat before it will be much of a target.

 

[GoldDigger]

A cable with concentric neutral will also minimize rodent contact with the phase conductors.

Tapatalk!

 

[mjf]

It depends.

If the UF happens to come up out of the ground and onto the building it can't be exposed below 8'.



On the other hand if the cable is not emerging from grade only the standard 'not where subject to damage' rules apply

And if you can consider it "not subject to damage" you can run it all the way around a structure only 2 inches above grade, but make one turn that makes it go below grade and then all of it must be protected - according to how it is worded.

I think you have a grasp of the point I was making.

Best solution:

Run cable from inside structure and route it INTO grade as opposed to EMERGING FROM grade ....... no protection required!!

 

[kwired]

Best solution:

Run cable from inside structure and route it INTO grade as opposed to EMERGING FROM grade ....... no protection required!!

Routing it into grade may involve a suitable sleeve to protect it

But make a turn where still exposed and within 8 feet of grade and you still need to protect it. Install everything the same except do not enter grade and protection may not be necessary.

Kind of seems like a dumb rule in a way.