I've been thinking on this subject of required phone outlets for the past couple of days. The NEC is going nutso. Okay, AFCI and TR receptacles, at least they directly deal with the possible hazards of electricity. But where are we going now?
Looking at the substantiation...
1. Reduces the safety risk of electrocution to technicians where extended
length drill bits (54 to 72 inches) are typically used to install cables and
penetrate unseen electrical cables in the attic, wall and ceiling space.
So it is for the protection of the telephone installer so he won't have to drill into the walls to install telephone cable in a home that has finished walls?
Shouldn't they also protect electricians and the cable tv guy from the same hazards? The NEC should prohibit drilling into any enclosed wall in a home for the purpose of adding receptacles or other electrical wiring. I mean, 210-52 covers where the receptacles should be. Why would a homeowner ever want an extra one added after the house is finished? Why risk the death of an electrician for something as petty as a receptacle outlet above the desk for a computer or some such thing?
After the home is finished, don't many homeowners want extra phone outlets for internet and cable tv installed to various rooms? Don't these workers need to be protected? One stinking communication outlet somewhere in the home isn't going to stop this extremely hazardous (if not deadly) act of drilling into walls.
What about a security system added after the fact? Window sensors, door sensors, all this typically requires drilling numerous holes in the walls. This insane practice has got to be stopped, and the responsibility falls square on the shoulders of the NFPA.
So what is so special about the phone guy that the NEC thinks he should not have to drill into an enclosed wall, yet the NEC remains surprisingly mute about electricians?
Freaking ridiculous.
2. Reduces the tripping hazard for fire protection personnel during a fire.
Huh? Oh. The typical home has telephone cable strung from the utility pole through the front window and then it is just ran on the floor to every room in the house. Forgot about that. Serious hazard there.
3. Reduces the need for home wiring for communications after occupancy
which typically involves tracing, handling, and snaking through electrical cable pathways and spaces such as in attics and wall cavities which creates potentially greater hazard (e.g., electrocution).
Same as #1 above. Just prohibit drilling an enclosed wall altogether. Hazard eliminated. Period. To put more wiring in a wall, the sheetrock has to be torn completely off first. That will be much safer for workers.
4. Increases the use of home protection systems and automation which
typically includes fire detection and direct dial-up remote monitoring systems.
"Hey Martha, check this out, them thar electishuns done put us in a telocommunicashuns outlet! Now we can have that security system which calls the police automaticalluy, fire alarm system that calls the fire departmunt automaticully that we always wanted but couldn't have cuz our old home had no phone outlet.
Actually this is a contradiction of #1. Why encourage a homeowner to get a home protection system when it will typically involve an installer drilling many holes in finished walls with the possibility of drilling into hot wiring. cRaZy!
But now that I think of it, shouldn't the NEC require a "safe for use on electrical fires" type of fire extinguisher in every room? And a documented training program for all occupants including tHe cHiLdReN of the dweliing in the use of said fire extinguisher? I mean isn't the purpose of the code to protect people from the hazards of electricity? A proper fire extinguisher could possibly save a life.
5. This proposal ties directly to one of the 5 key NFPA strategies to reduce fatal home fires (see attached ?Fire Loss in the United States During 2002?, Michael J Karter, Jr., Fire Analysis and Research Division, NFPA).
Whatever
6. Places communications outlets in homes to address fire safety needs of
young high user communications groups, older adults, and ADA affected.
Not if there is no requirement to actually have the outlet connected to the utility. Doh!
7. A fine print note is used as a reference to a standard that specifies
installation requirements such as minimum separation from power cabling and minimum requirements for cabling in support of the FCC mandate for category 3 cable or better. In addition, this standard references several NEC Articles for meeting minimum requirements.
I guess they left out the FPN in 800.156.
Well h3LL! But if it only saves one telephone man, it will have all been worth it.
