Furniture Connections and Electrical Permits

[john_axelson]

Just wondering how this is dealt with in other areas of the country.

Minnesota seems to be finally coming to their senses (at least some of the municipalities). I was on a job today that the furniture installer did all of the furniture connections. We were to just connect the "whip" to the furniture from our rough-in in the wall. The electrical inspector showed up to do our final and asked "Did you guys do the electrical connections within the furniture?" Our answer was no, we were just under contract to do the connection from the wall to the whip. He says "Sorry, can't final this project". He then told us that all electrical connections, even the "snap together" furniture connections need a licensed electrical contractor to do the work.

We now have a tenant that wants to move in, but can't because their furniture installer didn't pull a permit and have an electrician do the work.

What is the experience with furniture installers in other areas? This installer actually told the tenant "Don't worry about it,we do this all of the time."

 

[iwire]

This installer actually told the tenant "Don't worry about it,we do this all of the time."

They do 'do it all the time' and they get away with it in many areas. Then they get caught and are forced to hire electricians in that particular location, the next location they will be back to doing it themselves.

 

[infinity]

I'm glad to hear that someone is cracking down in this area. What's next running conduit and pulling wire and letting the licensed EC terminate them?

 

[ceknight]

.....I was on a job today that the furniture installer did all of the furniture connections.

For the benefit of an ignorant resi, what is this furniture which the installers are pre-wiring?

 

[iwire]

For the benefit of an ignorant resi, what is this furniture which the installers are pre-wiring?

For me either office cubical walls or lighted / powered display cases check out stations in stores etc.

 

[infinity]

Here's an example of a Herman Miller funiture system.

 

[ceknight]

For me either office cubical walls or lighted / powered display cases check out stations in stores etc.

Thanks, sir. I was thinking it might be cubicle farm equipment and such but wasn't sure. Which leads to my next ignorant question: wouldn't (or shouldn't) the installers just be trained and certified by the manufacturer to snap those connectors together and attach whips to them? Or is there more involved with this stuff that could merit the demand for a license? (I'm assuming the actual bits of furniture are manufactured and wired internally off-site, and come as approved assemblies. But I admitted my ignorance up front. )

 

[ceknight]

Here's an example of a Herman Miller funiture system.

Cool, thanks for the visual.

 

[infinity]

For one thing a furniture installer could snap together a million of these units with a million receptacles without any regard to the number permitted by electrical code.

 

[ceknight]

For one thing a furniture installer could snap together a million of these units with a million receptacles without any regard to the number permitted by electrical code.

That makes sense. I just had this picture in my head of office furniture systems that were designed for their spaces beforehand, and already wired according to specs before they showed up on site to be assembled.

 

[andinator]

For the benefit of an ignorant resi, what is this furniture which the installers are pre-wiring?

I like to call them "rat warrens" and "gopher holes":grin:

 

[LawnGuyLandSparky]

I like to call them "rat warrens" and "gopher holes":grin:

Actually, they're prairie-dog hives. Which leads us to our time-honored practice called "prarie-doggin'." In office towers, before we enter an occupied floor with a sea of cubicles, you bet your co-workers how many paper pusher heads will "pop-up" when a loud noise is made. The one with the closest number wins.

 

[Psychojohn]

Why is the furniture wired in, instead of having a plug?

 

[andinator]

Too many circuits. It would be cool to see the recp. and plug, though:roll:

 

[john_axelson]

Why is the furniture wired in, instead of having a plug?

Most Cubicle Sets will have four circuits brought to them, 3 "normal" and 1 isolated ground with a larger neutral (#10). This is eight wires (3 shared hots,1 neutral for the 3 hots, 1 isolated ground hot, 1 Isolated ground neutral and 2 ground wires) I haven't seen a receptacle like that.

 

[cowboyjwc]

For one thing a furniture installer could snap together a million of these units with a million receptacles without any regard to the number permitted by electrical code.

How many are permitted per the electrical code?

 

[infinity]

How many are permitted per the electrical code?

That depends on who you ask. The authors of the NECH and Mike Holt say that a 15 amp circuit is limited to 10 outlets, on a 20 amp circuit 13 outlets.