Patient Care Emergancy Wiring

[Tom Moore]

Article 517.30 (3)(3) refers to "mechanical protection" and states that we shall comply with 517.13 (A) and (B). my question is where does it say that emerency circuits shall be in conduit? hospital grade MC is a finished wall, in my opinion is mechanically protected. is hospital grade MC allowable for emergency circuits?

 

[roger]

See the five conditions of 517.30(C)(3) and 517.30(C)(3)(3) in particular.

Roger

 

[kwired]

See the five conditions of 517.30(C)(3) and 517.30(C)(3)(3) in particular.

Roger

You brought up something I know I have gotten away with before. 517.30(C)(3)(3). Only place you can use flexible raceways or cables is in listed assemblies (which you are not actually installing it in those cases), or when fished through finished spaces or where flexibility is required. I know I have run MC outside those conditions before and never was called on it.

So if I were to fish an existing wall, how far into an attic or crawlspace can I go before I must switch to a non flexible raceway? As worded, I don't think I can do this at all, reality says I may need at least a foot or two allowance to be reasonably practical with this.

 

[roger]

So if I were to fish an existing wall, how far into an attic or crawlspace can I go before I must switch to a non flexible raceway? As worded, I don't think I can do this at all, reality says I may need at least a foot or two allowance to be reasonably practical with this.

We try to change over at the point the cable exits the wall but, as you say, it's not always possible and most of our inspectors realize that on those occasions.

Roger