NMB in crawl space
- Thread starter nizak
- Start date
- Status
MAC702
Senior Member
- Location
- Clark County, NV
Pretty much EVERYTHING is an AHJ call, but if they say: "Just do what the NEC says for that," then UF is not required. We're basically talking about attics, basements, and under the floor but on the structure, right?
JFletcher
Senior Member
- Location
- Williamsburg, VA
Not here. You can run Romex in crawl spaces.
The definition of a damp location is pretty good up until the last sentence, where it completely falls apart.
A properly vented crawl space is not normally damp, and fits the definition of a dry location better... A location not normally subject to dampness or wetness. A location classified as dry may be temporarily subject to dampness or wetness as in the case of a building under construction.
It is also expressly permitted there through 334.15 C.
Barbqranch
Senior Member
- Location
- Arcata, CA
- Occupation
- Plant maintenance electrician Semi-retired
If the crawl space is damp, they have bigger problems than nmb.
growler
Senior Member
- Location
- Atlanta,GA
If it really is damp down there you will have a bigger problem than the electrical cables. The floor joist (which are not pressure treated) will mold and rot and you would fall through the flooring.
I try not to run any more cables in a crawl space than I have to because of mice, squirrels and other varmints ( animal and human ).
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JFletcher
Senior Member
- Location
- Williamsburg, VA
I do the same but for a different reason... It is faster (eta: in new construction) to run the cables through the studs or the top plate, over to another device or the panel, and back down than it is to go into the crawl space.
Are you worried about the vermin chewing up your cable, or scaring you while you are down there?
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I have never seen anyone get turned down for nm cable in a crawl space and some are sitting with inches of water under there at some time of the year. I think, ideally a crawl is pretty dry but most are damp.
I been under so many crawl spaces that had water dripping off the cables and duct work.
I been under so many crawl spaces that had water dripping off the cables and duct work.
growler
Senior Member
- Location
- Atlanta,GA
I do the same but for a different reason... It is faster (eta: in new construction) to run the cables through the studs or the top plate, over to another device or the panel, and back down than it is to go into the crawl space.
Are you worried about the vermin chewing up your cable, or scaring you while you are down there?
Actually I don't like to go into crawl spaces if I can help it. It's not a fear of vermin but bad knees. I wear good knee pads but I can still tell after going for a real crawl in a low crawl space.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
When I worked alone I usually did everything possible overhead but when I had a helper we could move much quicker going "down under". Most workers are not efficient in a crawl space but I could fly under there and we also squared all the wiring to the outside walls or to the main beam when running perpendicular to the joists.
Nc amended the drilling joists in the crawl space so you could wire as the crow flies.
Nc amended the drilling joists in the crawl space so you could wire as the crow flies.
mivey
Senior Member
So if the "no varmints allowed" signs keep them out of the attic why doesn't it work in the crawl space? The non-literate ones tend to hang out on the lower levels or are they just rebels?
mivey
Senior Member
I find crawling on rafters worse. The bad thing about crawl spaces is the rocks and construction debris that get you right on the knee bone.
growler
Senior Member
- Location
- Atlanta,GA
So if the "no varmints allowed" signs keep them out of the attic why doesn't it work in the crawl space? The non-literate ones tend to hang out on the lower levels or are they just rebels?
Your attic should be sealed so that squirrels have a real hard time gaining access and so should your crawl space.
I have seen plenty of crawl spaces where the access door was either broken or missing.
growler
Senior Member
- Location
- Atlanta,GA
If there is head room then dealing with rafters is easy, you don't crawl, you walk. Rafters are normally on 12-16" centers, it's trusses that are hard because they are on 24" centers.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
:thumbsup::thumbsup:
that is also a good point, these critters can bring you just as much or even more trouble as having the space be "damp".
Frank DuVal
Senior Member
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Engineer
I do not mind dry crawl spaces. The one with skunks living in it did bother me!:lol:
It was a half basement with crawl space. The home owner called a varmint person who quoted a high price, so the home owner captured the small babies in a 5 gallon bucket when they started roaming the half basement and removed them herself.hmy:
It was a half basement with crawl space. The home owner called a varmint person who quoted a high price, so the home owner captured the small babies in a 5 gallon bucket when they started roaming the half basement and removed them herself.
hmy:
mivey
Senior Member
The you get cats and fleas. Not a nice place to have to crawl if they are out of control. Exterminate first then I'll come back.
growler
Senior Member
- Location
- Atlanta,GA
The worst thing you can get in an unsealed attic is a bat problems with bats living in the attic.
You can't just go in and remove or kill them because there are laws and serious fines for disturbing bats. So you have to hire certified bat removal service. This can run into many thousand of dollars.
mivey
Senior Member
Bats? What bats? I didn't see no bats!
Barbqranch
Senior Member
- Location
- Arcata, CA
- Occupation
- Plant maintenance electrician Semi-retired
- Status