Raceways used as support.

[reyamkram]

Question, I was told you are allowed to use EMT and 1/2 air pipe, to mount a plastic box with a 5 HP AC drive inside, I do not believe that is true I did not find any thing in 110 or 314.23 that would support what I was told, only 1900 boxes.

Any an all information is helpful.

Thank you

 

[ptonsparky]

I cannot picture what you trying to do.
The EMT may be strong enough to support something by itself, but that is not what it was designed for. It is not allowed for support if you are using it as an electrical raceway.

 

[infinity]

It is not allowed for support if you are using it as an electrical raceway.

This is the key. If not being used as a raceway then it can be used as a support, just like any other piece of metal, wood, etc. Someone would need to decide if it were adequate support for the installation.

 

[Carultch]

This is the key. If not being used as a raceway then it can be used as a support, just like any other piece of metal, wood, etc. Someone would need to decide if it were adequate support for the installation.

To add onto this, steel raceways are commonly made from an alloy of steel that has a weaker yield strength than the alloy used for making otherwise equivalent structural and plumbing materials, in order to facilitate your ability to bend the raceway. So in cases where loads are enough that the stress is significant, you likely will want to opt for a steel product where the alloy identity and strength values are published, which is uncommon for electrical conduit.

It is OK to use empty raceway material as a support. Once you use it as a raceway, the scope of what you can use it to support is limited.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Here is the section

300.11(C) Raceways Used as Means of Support. Raceways shall be
used only as a means of support for other raceways, cables, or
nonelectrical equipment under any of the following conditions:
(1) Where the raceway or means of support is identified as a
means of support
(2) Where the raceway contains power supply conductors for
electrically controlled equipment and is used to support
Class 2 circuit conductors or cables that are solely for the
purpose of connection to the equipment control circuits
(3) Where the raceway is used to support boxes or conduit
bodies in accordance with 314.23 or to support luminaires
in accordance with 410.36(E)

 

[reyamkram]

I cannot picture what you trying to do.
The EMT may be strong enough to support something by itself, but that is not what it was designed for. It is not allowed for support if you are using it as an electrical raceway.

It is a 12" X 14" X 8" deep, that is supported on one side by 1/2" EMT and the other by 1/2" black pipe for air,

 

[roger]

As stated, if the emt is being used for conductors (a raceway) the answer is no, it can not be used to support the box. The air is under another code but if it is in fact being used as a pneumatic or air line my bet would be no as well.

Roger

 

[enricom]

so overall nothing should hang from the raceway if its currently used as a raceway? lets say in the case where i work, chains hung from them to hang banners, chains wrappd around side of the tray to support., so if wire is pulled through they could rub against and cut.

 

[petersonra]

Question, I was told you are allowed to use EMT and 1/2 air pipe, to mount a plastic box with a 5 HP AC drive inside, I do not believe that is true I did not find any thing in 110 or 314.23 that would support what I was told, only 1900 boxes.

Any an all information is helpful.

Thank you

As long as the EMT has no wires in it and the air pipe is not being used as an airline, I don't have a major issue with it, as long as it is strong enough. Whether it is strong "enough" is something else.

 

[ptonsparky]

so overall nothing should hang from the raceway if its currently used as a raceway? lets say in the case where i work, chains hung from them to hang banners, chains wrappd around side of the tray to support., so if wire is pulled through they could rub against and cut.

You know it, I know and most in the electrical field know. Explaining it to the person assigned to hang these 'Safety First Banners' is another issue.

 

[petersonra]

You know it, I know and most in the electrical field know. Explaining it to the person assigned to hang these 'Safety First Banners' is another issue.

Unfortunately, this is one of those cases where likely what is being done is not going to create a hazard, so you are down to citing a nitpicky rule to get rid of the safety first banners.