how high NMB permitted exposed in unfinished carport?

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Re: how high NMB permitted exposed in unfinished carport?

I've never heard that.

Where I'm at I have to use EMT in an unfinished garage. But that's not NEC.

Article 334 convers NM cable.

Specifically look at 334.15(B)
 
Re: how high NMB permitted exposed in unfinished carport?

I was also under the assumption :eek: that 8 ft was what was required till I had the same conversation with an inspector.Show me in the NEC he said and I`ll pass it until then 300 4 D takes over.
Needless to say I redid the drops in pvc and 4 squares :roll:
 
Re: how high NMB permitted exposed in unfinished carport?

Think he meant 334 15 B also but I didn`t argue just complied ;)
 
Re: how high NMB permitted exposed in unfinished carport?

NMB is NOT legal in a carport because it is a damp location. You need to be using type UF. ( NMC is no longer made because type UF can be used as NMC. )
 
Re: how high NMB permitted exposed in unfinished carport?

Originally posted by mc5w:
NMB is NOT legal in a carport because it is a damp location. You need to be using type UF. ( NMC is no longer made because type UF can be used as NMC. )
Click to expand...
why is a carport considered a damp location. its under cover. under a front porch roof is not considered a damp area. same thing - right?
 
Re: how high NMB permitted exposed in unfinished carport?

I would think that NM could be used in the carport as long as it is under the roof and drops are in some sort conduit. 334.12 (10)d states where exposed to "excessive" moisture or dampness. what would the definition of excessive be?
 
Re: how high NMB permitted exposed in unfinished carport?

have you ever heard of fog.
i live close to a river and ever morning when i get in my car, there is so much moister that it is raining under my carport.
 
Re: how high NMB permitted exposed in unfinished carport?

The definition of "dry location" does state that it may be temporarily damp or wet. I would say that a carport falls into this category, since it is only temporarily damp during the odd morning's fog.

In my mind, as long as the NM is arranged to that it is free from physical damage, and not exposed to sunlight, then it would be okay. The bigger violation in my mind would be the drops exposed to sunlight. I say, run the romex overhead and sleeve the drops in something like RNC, or run UF for the whole carport job. UF not for damp protection, but for sunlight resistance.

Just my thoughts.
 
Re: how high NMB permitted exposed in unfinished carport?

Did anyone look at the definion's ,Damp Location: ---such as,roofed open porches, partially protected locations under canopys---It is a DAMP location.
That is not my opinion,that's what the NEC states.

frank
 
Re: how high NMB permitted exposed in unfinished carport?

Originally posted by benaround:
Did anyone look at the definion's ,Damp Location: ---such as,roofed open porches, partially protected locations under canopys---It is a DAMP location.
That is not my opinion,that's what the NEC states.

frank
Click to expand...
True enough, Frank. Now we'll be wiring old damp basements with UF. Thanks a million. :D
 
Re: how high NMB permitted exposed in unfinished carport?

Art 100
"Location, Damp. Locations protected from weather and not subject to saturation with water or other liquids but subject to moderate degrees of moisture. Examples of such locations include partially protected locations under canopies,
marquees, roofed open porches, and like locations,
and interior locations subject to moderate degrees of moisture, such as some basements, some barns, and some coldstorage warehouses."

such as some basements

MDS
You are correct :D

I would consider a carport as a damp location, just the same as an outdoor porch.
 
Re: how high NMB permitted exposed in unfinished carport?

Wow, I sure opened up a can o' worms here, glad I'm not the only one who finds such issues a little hazy at times. Points all well taken, thanks so much.
 
Re: how high NMB permitted exposed in unfinished carport?

No no, don't give it another thought. The same thing would happen if you ask whether on should be up or down with a single pole switch.
 
Re: how high NMB permitted exposed in unfinished carport?

Sam thats an easy one if upside down the switch tells you it is wrong NO & FOO :D
 
Re: how high NMB permitted exposed in unfinished carport?

I wanted to follow up with feedback after so many quality replies on this.

Sure enough, we were tagged by the Seattle City Light inspector for the exposed NMB above 8 feet in the carport. His comment was "NMB is not an approved surface-wiring method". Period. It's interesting that after a little further discussion he added that even UF would not have been approved (exposed).
 
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