Flooding Recovery Guidelines

[Ravenvalor]

Good Morning,

I have a customer with a small business that received an unwelcome guest last Sunday, about 5' of water due to tropical storm Chantal here in Chapel Hill, NC.

The sheetrockers are removing the bottom 6' of sheetrock so that it can be replaced and the inner walls can be dried out.

I was wondering if anyone on this forum could give me some guidelines as to what electrical components should be replaced and what can just be allowed to dry?

The building is in a strip mall that was built in the 70s. However this little business was rewired in 2013 due to another flooding event.

If there is EMT or MC cable involved does that need to be replaced or can it be dried out? If drying is an option can I just point fans at the MC cable to speed up the drying? If it is EMT, can I use a vacuum cleaner to pull the water out of any horizontal sections?

If the EMT has THWN in it I should be able to verify that in the panel. But if the MC cable has THWN or something with a W in the name on it should I be able to see that in the panel?

I left a message with the electrical inspector late Friday for his advice but would like to go beyond what is just necessary.

Thanks for the great advice.

 

[infinity]

Following super storm Sandy which devastated parts of NJ we construction officials were given these guidelines by the state regarding flooded electrical systems.

 

[Ravenvalor]

Looks straightforward. Wonder if these guidelines include romex cable? Seems like the paper inside the romex would never dry.

Thanks.

 

[infinity]

Looks straightforward. Wonder if these guidelines include romex cable? Seems like the paper inside the romex would never dry.

Thanks.

Maybe it would take a long time to dry out but that directive included NM cable.

 

[roger]

Our guidelines are pretty much the same as Rob's.

As far as the paper being wet, millions and millions of feet of NM has been in the back of open pick up trucks getting rained on and sitting in puddles before being installed, nothing to worry about.

 

[Ravenvalor]

Great news. The customer will be very happy. I will let you know what the local inspector says.

Thanks,

 

[Fred B]

NEMA Guidelines for flood recovery of electrical equipment:

https://www.nema.org/docs/default-source/secure-document-library/nema-gd-1-2016-evaluating-water-damaged-electrical-equipment-guide.pdf?sfvrsn=7034f9b6_2

Submerged NM has to be replaced as well as breakers, Switches, receptacles, motors.