horse barn
- Thread starter etechman
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
If the horse barn is considered an agricultural building, then NM is not allowed. 547.5(A).
If it is not, then it would have to be installed in a dry location and concealed behind a 15 minute finish by 334.10(3) and 334.12(B)(4).
ceb58
Senior Member
- Location
- Raeford, NC
I disagree with that George. It states " or other cables or raceways suitable for the location". I have worked in many horse barns that were wired with NM-B. The romex was sleeved down to switches and recp. to protect them from the horses' chewing on the wire.
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
Is NM permitted in the areas described in 547.1(A) or (B)? :?
Edit: The question is, do horse barns fall under (A) or (B). You seem to indicate they do, but NM is allowed anyway.
Edit: The question is, do horse barns fall under (A) or (B). You seem to indicate they do, but NM is allowed anyway.
Smiley64
Member
- Location
- Middleton Wisconsin
An active horse born produces a harsh environment with urine, acid and cleaners in the air. I was trained not to use NM.
ceb58
Senior Member
- Location
- Raeford, NC
I would say a horse barn falls more into (A) than (B)
There is a difference between code and above code. What you say is true and if it were wired with PVC conduit and THWN or UF then that is great. But it still can be wired with NM-B.
IMO, you are in a Code area where only YOUR AHJ's decision will matter.
IF one considers this particular install to be covered by Art 547, then you have to entertain such items as equipotential bonding (Art 547.10), etc. In a true Art 547 situation, NM is not listed as a approved wiring method.
Locally it seems our "family farm barns" (two or three horses) are not stringently held to Art 547 standards, however, NM is seldom allowed due to (a) moisture and (b) physical damage.
In line with post #2, even PVC is not used in areas accessible to the live stock. (Note Art 547 permits MC only when "jacketed").
Here we normally find installations consisting of UF or PVC in areas not subject to damage and EMT, or GRS, in areas accessible to the livestock.
IF one considers this particular install to be covered by Art 547, then you have to entertain such items as equipotential bonding (Art 547.10), etc. In a true Art 547 situation, NM is not listed as a approved wiring method.
Locally it seems our "family farm barns" (two or three horses) are not stringently held to Art 547 standards, however, NM is seldom allowed due to (a) moisture and (b) physical damage.
In line with post #2, even PVC is not used in areas accessible to the live stock. (Note Art 547 permits MC only when "jacketed").
Here we normally find installations consisting of UF or PVC in areas not subject to damage and EMT, or GRS, in areas accessible to the livestock.
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
Good answer, Gus. 
Horse barns are tricky, because it is not clear whether 547 applies or not, from the scope.
Horse barns are tricky, because it is not clear whether 547 applies or not, from the scope.
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
If you really want a corrosive atmosphere, try a chicken house! All of them arouind here are wired in NM, but non have been inspected. The thing I always hated about them, they would put the panels and controls inside, the ammonia plays havoc with contactors and breakers, and enclosures too!
PEDRO ESCOVILLA
Senior Member
- Location
- south texas
i'd go with mc as a minimum. may want to run pipe in certain areas. i certainly wouldn't run romex. just becasue it may be permitted doesn't make it a good idea.
renosteinke
Senior Member
- Location
- NE Arkansas
I think Hillbilly is on the right track. Let's set the codebook aside for a moment, and look at real-world experience.
NM has been used quite successfully in various poultry houses. It's the 'method of choice' for those movable partitions and fixture whips. The 'stuff in the air' just eats up SO cord and MC jackets (of any sort).
Your main problem is that various critters like to chew on the stuff. Mice haven't been quite the problem they were, since they stopped making the jacket from soybean oil. Still, I favor running the stuff exposed, so that you can spot any damage. Fire barrier? Please ... a wee bit of drywall will only give the mice sheltered nests, absorb moisture and odors, and to no avail - barns burn like rocket fuel no matter what.
Anything run lower than 7ft. AFF needs to be protected against chewing and rubbing. I think we're talking at least EMT here. Even then, there ought to be additional protection, such as running the pipe in corners and other places that are not so vulnerable.
The code section on "agriculture" is more a curse than a blessing. It makes sense to apply it to a milk shed, but to apply it to a stable is simply silly.
NM has been used quite successfully in various poultry houses. It's the 'method of choice' for those movable partitions and fixture whips. The 'stuff in the air' just eats up SO cord and MC jackets (of any sort).
Your main problem is that various critters like to chew on the stuff. Mice haven't been quite the problem they were, since they stopped making the jacket from soybean oil. Still, I favor running the stuff exposed, so that you can spot any damage. Fire barrier? Please ... a wee bit of drywall will only give the mice sheltered nests, absorb moisture and odors, and to no avail - barns burn like rocket fuel no matter what.
Anything run lower than 7ft. AFF needs to be protected against chewing and rubbing. I think we're talking at least EMT here. Even then, there ought to be additional protection, such as running the pipe in corners and other places that are not so vulnerable.
The code section on "agriculture" is more a curse than a blessing. It makes sense to apply it to a milk shed, but to apply it to a stable is simply silly.
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
Yeah, some of these chicken houses have two strands of TW run end to end with temporary sockets every 10 or so feet, if your lucky, they have the TW on insulators, if not, it's a bent over nail holding it in place. Some houses well over 40-50 years old, the panels don't survive that long though.
- Status