Outdoor Temp light and power question .

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ChrisGS

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Hi everybody ,

I was on a jobsite today where there is a four story addition to a school about to go up .

All of the temporary light and power drops on the site is wired in regular12/3 type NM-B wire(Romex) which is fairly common practice around here .

A school construction safety inspector demanded that all outdoor temporary wiring be taken down , and replaced with cable that conforms to NEC table 400.4 for "hard service" (such as types SO,SOW,SJ,SE,SEW,ST etc...) even though the way the existing temp wiring is run , it is safe from physical harm .

Is there an outdoor rated type NM cable and if so , how is it desegnated ? Also ,what would you guys use for outdoor temp wiring ?

Thankyou ,
Chris .

P.S. This is a great website.
 
ChrisGS said:
Hi everybody ,

I was on a jobsite today where there is a four story addition to a school about to go up .

All of the temporary light and power drops on the site is wired in regular12/3 type NM-B wire(Romex) which is fairly common practice around here .

A school construction safety inspector demanded that all outdoor temporary wiring be taken down , and replaced with cable that conforms to NEC table 400.4 for "hard service" (such as types SO,SOW,SJ,SE,SEW,ST etc...) even though the way the existing temp wiring is run , it is safe from physical harm .

Is there an outdoor rated type NM cable and if so , how is it desegnated ? Also ,what would you guys use for outdoor temp wiring ?

Thankyou ,
Chris .

P.S. This is a great website.
Click to expand...


334.12 B 4
 
I guess if I would have read further , I would have found article 338 on types SE and USE cable ...Service Entrance cable... when I think of Service Entrance , I don' tusually think of 12/3 , but it seems like it would have fit the bill...suitable for wet and sunlight exposure .

The safety inspector actually sited art.590.4 C where it refers to cable type identified in Table 400.4 for "hard usage"

...I don't know, in a few months the building will be up and the temp power will be set-up inside ...wetness and sunlight no longer an issue . I think the Romex would have been just fine .

Chris.
 
Is "The safety inspector" the AHJ? if he is then what he say's is what it is...... and I think the codes will back it up.

But.. I'm just here learning so wait till the Knowledgeable guys finish supper (or it may be dinner for them?) and you will get the real answer!
 
I too wonder about this. We always run NM for our temporary. Even if you switched from NM, you still need to make joints for all the fixtures. Then does the fixtures and JB's need to be watertight/weatherproof??? It starts a snowball effect if you think about it.
 
Hey thanks everybody ,

The contractor agreed to take down the romex , and install type SEW and that sort of made the safety inspector happy . Of course , she wants the job done yesterday , and the contractor can't get to it untill next week .

It's a fairly decent sized job overall , and there is a lot of electrical work going in this school building...Hopefully , the contractor can make some profit, and put some men to work (our jurisdiction has 2500 journeymen unemployed).

This is a great forum , and I'm sure I'll have plenty more questions in the future..

Thanks again,
Chris.
 
ChrisGS,

Have you looked at artcle 527.4(c) it states that type nm and nmc SHALL

BE permitted on any building without hieght limitations! 2002 nec.
 
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