Is The Inside of a Sealed Conduit a Wet Location

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iwire

iwire

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I have been posting to this thread and want some others opinions.

The thread concerns conductors inside of Liquid tight (LFMC) conduit from a disconnect outside to a HVAC unit.

The person who posted the thread was failed for not using wet location conductors inside the LFMC.

My opinion is that the NEC does not require wet location conductors for this application.

This run is not an underground location and while obviously the LFMC being outside is considered a wet location I do not believe that the NEC considers the inside of this raceway a wet location.

Am I way off base? :)
 
Re: Is The Inside of a Sealed Conduit a Wet Location

I have conflicting views about this and stated it on the other thread and will post them here as well.
Art 100 - wet location, the last sentence states ...'and in unprotected locations exposed to weather'.
110.11 Unless identified for use in the operating environment, no conductors or equipment shall be located in damp or wet locations;
310.8 (C) Wet Locations.
225.22 Raceways on Exterior Surfaces of Buildings or Other Structures.
The question is, is the interior of a raceway installed in a wet location other than underground considered a wet location?
My answer lies within 225.22, why does that requirement, for all raceways (except FMC), exist if not for the fact that water (moisture) will in one way or another enter/form in the raceway.
Reality: in a short run such as to most condensors will water accumulate? Most likely not, but the potential is there.
If not for the fact that I have removed conductors from these raceways in the past and have seen water accumulate in them I would not be as adament about this. JMHO

Pierre
 
Re: Is The Inside of a Sealed Conduit a Wet Location

It is my opinion that all outside raceways are "wet locations". The fittings allow water to enter the conduit under some conditions and condensation also produces water in the raceway. Another source of water is from the enclosure that the raceway is connected too. 3R enclosures are not required to prevent water from entering the enclosure, they are only required to prevent the live parts from getting wet. Water does enter these enclosures and can run down the raceway if it is connected to the bottom of the enclosure.
Don

[ February 22, 2004, 02:07 PM: Message edited by: don_resqcapt19 ]
 
Re: Is The Inside of a Sealed Conduit a Wet Location

Originally posted by don_resqcapt19:
It is my opinion that all outside raceways are "wet locations".
Click to expand...
Don & Pierre I agree water gets in these raceways.

Put aside your (our) personal opinions and tell me what you think the NEC requires.

That is all I am asking.
 
Re: Is The Inside of a Sealed Conduit a Wet Location

Bob
225.22 and 310.8 and the previous conversation tell me the NEC requires conductors installed in raceways (other than FMC) installed outside and subject to the weather require conductors that are listed for wet locations.

Pierre
You had mentioned "arranged to drain". I have spoken to some people about this subject, including Brian McPartland, and the only thing they could come up with to arrange to drain, is to drill a small hole in the bottom of the enclosure or condulet if one did not already exist. I personnally have not installed any raceways for that specific requirement.
 
Re: Is The Inside of a Sealed Conduit a Wet Location

Bob,
The NEC does not have to tell us what is a wet location. 310.8(C) requries that the conductors used in wet locations must be suitable for that use. If we know the inside of the conduit will get water in it, then it is a wet location.
Don
 
Re: Is The Inside of a Sealed Conduit a Wet Location

That is logical Don.

But then what is the need for this.

300.(5)(D)(5) Listing. Cables and insulated conductors installed in enclosures or raceways in underground installations shall be listed for use in wet locations.
Click to expand...
Or this.

348.12
FMC shall not be used in the following:
(1) In wet locations unless the conductors are approved for the specific conditions and the installation is such that liquid is not likely to enter raceways or enclosures to which the conduit is connected
Click to expand...
I will drop this as we will just go around in circles.
 
Re: Is The Inside of a Sealed Conduit a Wet Location

Bob I will take stab at that and say that greenfield used in a "wet location" should have something like a THHW RHW THWN or a UF cable assembly inside .

John

"But then what is the need for this,"
well now that I read this part I see what you mean.

[ February 22, 2004, 08:02 PM: Message edited by: drg ]
 
Re: Is The Inside of a Sealed Conduit a Wet Location

. . . to arrange to drain, is to drill a small hole . . .
Click to expand...
Pierre, in order for raceways to be arranged to drain, they only need to be canted a little. With water pipe, the couplings are tapered to match the threads of the pipe. Electrical couplings are not tapered and will allow the raceways to drain if the water can get to them. Drilling a weep hole is not necessary. :D
 
Re: Is The Inside of a Sealed Conduit a Wet Location

What about 110.2 in the 02 code.Also see definition of approved.
 
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