NEC 300-8 Interpretation

[Jennifer S]

I work for an OEM of Industrial Machinery. We use wireway and unistrut to run electrical cables from the control panel to the machine junction box. Is it acceptable to run pnuematic hoses in the same wireway/unistrut as the electrical cables? The electrical cables are 24-cond. with max voltage of 24VDC.

 

[480sparky]

No. The words 'shall not' pretty much say so.

 

[infinity]

No. The words 'shall not' pretty much say so.

Cables are not permitted?

 

[480sparky]

Cables are not permitted?

OP stated 'pnuematic hoses'.

 

[dlhoule]

No. The words 'shall not' pretty much say so.

Code? If this is part of machine wiring the NEC does not apply.

 

[dcspector]

Code? If this is part of machine wiring the NEC does not apply.

Sounds like the OP is field installing the raceways so I would have to say not permitted per 300.8

 

[wasasparky]

300.8 says conductors (not cables)?

 

[tom25]

I would say they are OEM and the NEC does not apply, but may need their equipment field inspected by a third party.

 

[Jennifer S]

NEC does not apply for an OEM?? This is the first time I've heard this. Article 90.2 (3) specifically states "for equipment that connect to the supply of electricity". Article 300.8 does state conductors which we Do Not have in the wireway. We only have multi-conductor cables. Interesting.

 

[ryan_618]

A change in the 2008 clarifies that the NEC does, in fact, cover industrial machinery. This was added to the Article 100 definition of "equipment".

 

[tom25]

our injection molding equipment is connected to a "supply of electricity"
who inspected the equipment? nec applys to the circuit feeding the equipment.

 

[steve66]

I'd say its iffy. Its not completely clear if the NEC applies if this is part of a listed assembly.

Its also not clear if 300.8 prohibits hoses in the same raceway as a "cable".

Since your cable doesn't need a raceway in the first place, I'm not sure the unistrut or wireway has to be considered a "raceway".

Finally, it might also depend on what these wires are used for. For example, 725.3 looks like it would throw 300.8 out the window (at least for this application.)

On the other hand, if you sell these all over the country, separating the hoses may save you a lot of grief from all the inspectors who will be looking at these installations.

Steve

 

[jwelectric]

A change in the 2008 clarifies that the NEC does, in fact, cover industrial machinery. This was added to the Article 100 definition of "equipment".

Except in North Carolina. House Bill 490 has removed industrial machinery from the building codes.