NM or MC?

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Designer69

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Type R-2 occupancy. Dormitory bldg, split with sleeping rooms and individual dwelling units.

NM or MC wiring suggested?
 
through some older Mike Holt posts where the predominant position in the posts was to go with MC due to higher potential of damage to type NM and not a significant increase in cost by using MC.

This similar position was taken in other posts in other websites which I just googled.
 
Designer69 said:
through some older Mike Holt posts where the predominant position in the posts was to go with MC due to higher potential of damage to type NM and not a significant increase in cost by using MC.

This similar position was taken in other posts in other websites which I just googled.
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I disagree with that conclusion. I would bet 9 out of 10 of us would go with what code allows, unless it is spec'ed in the plans of course. Sure most of us dont do absolute code minimum, but going from NM to MC is a rather serious materials and labor jump.
 
Contact your AHJ

Contact your AHJ

I live in Long Beach, NY and their local code states no mc in certaint applications due to corrosion from the salty environment. Best to check with your local AHJ.
 
Hoodood said:
I live in Long Beach, NY and their local code states no mc in certaint applications due to corrosion from the salty environment. Best to check with your local AHJ.
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For dry location indoor wiring?

If it is that corrosive that this is a requirement, I'd be more concerned about other items then I would be about a metal cable sheath.

Wet location rated MC has a covering that likely would withstand pretty corrosive environments.
 
MC cable has a regular THHN ground conductor. Who cares if the sheath which is aluminum gets a bit oxidized.
 
Where do you get NM-C , unless that is more commonly known as UF ?
Years ago I asked the supply house and they laughed!
 
Cow said:
I don't know any sane person that would even think of wiring an entire dormitory building in UF. The rough in crew would think they were being punished for something...:)
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Sorry. I was guilty of thread hickjacking. The original post on the dorm did not mention corrosion. It was mentioning in one of the comments and I was simply mentioning that when NM-C was needed, UF is an alternative.
I agree the thought of having to do any extensive work with UF is frightening.
The OP was attempting to nail down the requirement for MC vs NM.
To that end, I would not depend on something you read from an earlier post but confirm the construction type and any local requirements. On a project like that you need to make sure you are on the right road.
 
UF in 12 and 14 gauge is not much harder than NM to work with... 10 gauge and bigger, its gets exponentially more a pain in the butt as size goes up.

They do make a stripper for 6/3 UF... It's called an axe:lol:

NM, MC, UF... All of it is a walk in the park compared to that old armored cable... That stuff is truly a nightmare to work with especially in remodels.
 
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