RMC between buildings? Overhead?

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c_picard

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USA
Scenario: Detached garage, approx. 3ft from a house. Problem; Need to get power from one to the other, trench would involve breaking up a concrete apron.

I've honestly never seen this, but it has been suggested (not by me) to run a piece of ridged between the structures to avoid a trench. I can't find anything to prohibit this (I still don't like it), and all the clearance requirements seem to apply to aerial conductors, not conduit.

I feel like the code is silent on the matter because this is a silly idea, and no one has thought that explicitly addressing this was even necessary. I'm hoping there's something in the building code that would ix-nay this idea, because I really do not want to see this as a solution.

Question: Is there a Code (NEC or building, if anyone is familiar with the IRC) article I can point to in order to get the trench to happen?
 
I think if the RMC is properly supported, it would not be an illegal installation. I don't see anything in 225 that would prohibit what you describe. Of course, common sense would be required to be sure the RMC is out of harms way.
 
c_picard said:
Scenario: Detached garage, approx. 3ft from a house. Problem; Need to get power from one to the other, trench would involve breaking up a concrete apron.

I've honestly never seen this, but it has been suggested (not by me) to run a piece of ridged between the structures to avoid a trench. I can't find anything to prohibit this (I still don't like it), and all the clearance requirements seem to apply to aerial conductors, not conduit.

I feel like the code is silent on the matter because this is a silly idea, and no one has thought that explicitly addressing this was even necessary. I'm hoping there's something in the building code that would ix-nay this idea, because I really do not want to see this as a solution.

Question: Is there a Code (NEC or building, if anyone is familiar with the IRC) article I can point to in order to get the trench to happen?
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I just finished a similar install. I used an expansion coupling between the buildings even though that was probably not necessary.

Does not look bad at all and it will last forever.
 
I just ran 1" RMC between a MCC and wall spaning 5ft in the air. Similar, but different in your location, the RMC could be used for pull ups or?
Strap it really well - strut and clamps.
 
Run from building to building I would think an expansion fitting will be required in the run to be a technically compliant installation. In residential situations, I imagine it would be "overlooked". :blink:
 
Smart $ said:
Run from building to building I would think an expansion fitting will be required in the run to be a technically compliant installation. In residential situations, I imagine it would be "overlooked". :blink:
Click to expand...

An expansion fitting for RMC?
 
A 3ft. piece of GRC conduit spanning between two buildings would look better and would last longer (in my opinion) than an overhead cable (spanning 3'???). I can find nothing in the Code that would prohibit this. An expansion coupling would not be required (as far as I can find) since the raceway is not PVC. I have seen this done many times and it is fine as long as the raceway cannot be hung on or tripped over. You would need to supply a disconnecting means at the separate building though.
 
Scratchbuilt said:
I would not consider a gap between two separate buildings a structural joint if the buildings are not connected in any way. What's structural about air?
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It's not the air... :rotflmao:

It's more that separate structures can move with respect to each other... same reason structural joints are included in single structures.
 
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