Garage or utility room passthroughs for cords, and codes

B

brycenesbitt

Senior Member
Location
United States
Tons of people use lawn equipment, lighting or run EV chargers via cords run out doors or under garage doors.
There are a ton of cheesy cord protectors for cables run under garage doors....
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Despite clear issues with entry of mice, drafts and more.

Are there insurmountable NEC or building code barriers would prevent building a purpose built passthrough for cords? Something insulated,
draft blocking, fire resistant, that won't pinch a cord? I've seen a few DIY versions for RVs but nothing really made and listed/solid or installed by a professional crew.
What barriers would one face trying to officially do something like this?
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brycenesbitt said:
Tons of people use lawn equipment, lighting or run EV chargers via cords run out doors or under garage doors.
There are a ton of cheesy cord protectors for cables run under garage doors....
View attachment 2575314
Despite clear issues with entry of mice, drafts and more.

Are there insurmountable NEC or building code barriers would prevent building a purpose built passthrough for cords? Something insulated,
draft blocking, fire resistant, that won't pinch a cord? I've seen a few DIY versions for RVs but nothing really made and listed/solid or installed by a professional crew.
What barriers would one face trying to officially do something like this?
View attachment 2575316
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I don't think I could do a dang thing about that. I no of no code that would prohibit it either.

Ron
 
The question is does the NEC apply to these cords? Sounds like the NEC does apply otherwise these are just useless words.

400.12 Uses Not Permitted. Unless specifically permitted in 400.10, flexible cords, flexible cables, cord sets, and power supply cords shall not be used for the following:
(1) As a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure
(2) Where run through holes in walls, structural ceilings, suspended ceilings, dropped ceilings, or floors
(3) Where run through doorways, windows, or similar openings
(4)Where attached to building surfaces
Exception to (4): Flexible cord and flexible cable shall be permitted to be attached to building surfaces in accordance with 368.56(B) and 590.4.
(5)Where concealed by walls, floors, or ceilings or located above suspended or dropped ceilings
Exception to (5): Flexible cords, flexible cables, and power supply cords shall be permitted if contained within an enclosure for use in other spaces used for environmental air as permitted by 300.22(C)(3).
(6)Where installed in raceways, except as otherwise permitted in this Code
(7)Where subject to physical damage
Informational Note: For proper application see UL 817, Cord Sets and Power-Supply Cords, and UL 62, Flexible Cords and Cables.
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solarken said:
I doubt the intent is to apply that section of 400 to temporary use of a tool like an electric trimmer, using an extension cord plugged into an outlet inside a garage.
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Yeah. I can't remember the last time I pulled a permit and had an inspection before I used an extension cord at home. I also believe that a 'pass through' should not be approved on new residential installations.
The NEC section 400 is usually enforced on construction and industrial sites.
 
I'm pretty much with infinity here.

So you want to build some kind of pass through, look at the part of 400 he quoted, then answer the question: If cord is intended to power something outside, then why are you not installing the receptacle or equipment outside? How do you justify building a permanent pass through instead of extending the wiring to it with a chapter 3 method?

For situations where the use of something changed or was not anticipated, but cords are plugged into receptacles and not attached to the building, it's arguably temporary and the NEC doesn't regulate it. Key word in 90.2 is 'installation'. So for the example photo in the OP is anything 'installed'? But then if you are 'installing' a pass through essentially for the purporse of violating article 400...
 
jaggedben said:
..'installing' a pass through essentially for the purporse of violating article 400...
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After Certificate of Occupancy NEC violations are not typically cited, as Ron noted in #11
rc/retired said:
How would someone enforce it?
House has a CO, homeowner creates code violations.
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Fire marshals use fire codes to red tag extension cord wiring, or report their charred remains.

In my State fire-marshals cite NFPA-1 §11.1, Uniform Fire Codes (UFC) 8504, 8507, 8508, among others, or lack of UL 1363 listing requirements for power strips, typically missing from Amazon & thrift store products.
 
brycenesbitt said:
Are there insurmountable NEC or building code barriers would prevent building a purpose built passthrough for cords?
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Since municipal records are open to the public, proving missing remodel permits will always be the lowest hanging fruit for insurance to deny claims, but fire-marshal reports provide other causes to deny claims, such as smoke & CO alarm violations, extension cords, or arson.

The 2008 global recession demonstrated how interrupting new mortgages from Joe homeowner took down the world economy, but DIY & remodel defects wont blow up all at once, so the blissful and ignorant can suffer complete losses at a rate that doesn't crash the economy.

In other words, no one will slap your hand. You can get away with this, and probably sell the property that way. So, please use extension cords, unlisted devices, and give us another cause to deny insurance claims, so we can cancel & non-renew, for increased hazards not insured against.
 
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