Plumbing pipe used as electrical conduit?

[Tainted]

There is weird looking piping above an electrical wireway as shown in picture below. I am not sure if this is plumbing piping. Is plumbing piping allowed to be used as an electrical conduit?

 

[ptonsparky]

I've seen old installations using black iron piping. Meaning the 1920s.

 

[Tainted]

I've seen old installations using black iron piping. Meaning the 1920s.

what kind of conduit is in my picture?

 

[zbang]

Yep, before galvanized became a thing it was black iron pipe.

 

[ptonsparky]

what kind of conduit is in my picture?

Well, depends. What does it contain?. Gas, water or wire? Not meaning to be a SA, but black iron was used for different purposes.

 

[Tainted]

Well, depends. What does it contain?. Gas, water or wire? Not meaning to be a SA, but black iron was used for different purposes.

there are wires inside it

 

[drcampbell]

Electrical conduit is smooth inside. Plumbing pipe might or might not be.

 

[Jraef]

Black iron electrical conduit was a thing a long time ago, but basically people stopped using it post WWII, because galvanizing (as an offshoot of military developments) became too cheap and easy to not just go that route for everything, so conduit suppliers only had to make and inventory one product.

So you can no longer buy black iron electrical conduit now, but you could have in the 1920s and 30s, which is likely what you are looking at here.
But NO, you cannot use "plumbing pipe" as electrical conduit. As mentioned, the plumbing pipe standards are different in terms of the inner surfaces so as to not damage wire insulation. So the material starts out the same, but conduit is given a few extra steps in the manufacturing process that plumbing pipe doesn't require.

 

[Tainted]

Black iron electrical conduit was a thing a long time ago, but basically people stopped using it post WWII, because galvanizing (as an offshoot of military developments) became too cheap and easy to not just go that route for everything, so conduit suppliers only had to make and inventory one product.

So you can no longer buy black iron electrical conduit now, but you could have in the 1920s and 30s, which is likely what you are looking at here.

Got it, I'm also assuming there is nothing in the code that says you can't use conduit that is not recognized by the NEC?

 

[infinity]

there are wires inside it

As stated black iron RMC the precursor to galvanized RMC. Often call " black pipe".

 

[ron]

Got it, I'm also assuming there is nothing in the code that says you can't use conduit that is not recognized by the NEC?

The code identifies the acceptable choices in Chapter 300. If it isn't in there, you can't use it for new work.

 

[synchro]

Electrical conduit is smooth inside. Plumbing pipe might or might not be.

Yes, plumbing pipe sometimes has a noticeable weld bead projecting from its inside wall, and that could damage the insulation on wiring if it's used as conduit.

 

[TwoBlocked]

I've used galv sch 40 pipe as conduit in a manufacturing plant cause that's all that was on the rack.

 

[kingpb]

I've used galv sch 40 pipe as conduit in a manufacturing plant cause that's all that was on the rack.

A lot of things are done that don't meet code. Doesn't mean it won't work, but NEC is there for a reason.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Got it, I'm also assuming there is nothing in the code that says you can't use conduit that is not recognized by the NEC?

344.6 requires that conduit being installed be listed. All of the listed rigid metal conduit is galvanized, so you can't install black enamel protected rigid metal conduit in a new installation.
There is nothing that prohibits the use or reuse of black enamel protected RMC that was installed when that was hot rigid conduit was protected.
300.6(A)(1) even addresses enamel protected raceways.

(1) Protected from Corrosion Solely by Enamel.
Where protected from corrosion solely by enamel, ferrous metal raceways, cable trays, cablebus, auxiliary gutters, cable armor, boxes, cable sheathing, cabinets, enclosures (other than surrounding fences and walls), elbows, couplings, nipples, fittings, supports, and support hardware shall not be used outdoors or in wet locations as described in 300.6(D).

 

[TwoBlocked]

A lot of things are done that don't meet code. Doesn't mean it won't work, but NEC is there for a reason.

In a manufacturing plant, who is the AHJ?

 

[ptonsparky]

In a manufacturing plant, who is the AHJ?

The person handling the money.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

A member posted this years ago. Apparently, it is an operating system of wiring in plumbing PVC. Check out the end caps and how the conduit is reduced.

Be happy you have black iron. lol

 

[nizak]

Must have been a glue as you go type install.

You might be able to pull a couple #14’s thru the 4” elbows

 

[Jraef]

A member posted this years ago. Apparently, it is an operating system of wiring in plumbing PVC. Check out the end caps and how the conduit is reduced.

Be happy you have black iron. lol


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Wow….