Romex in garage

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Sparky09

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Hi i am a electrician apprentice and i was wondering if it was legal to staple romex to dry wall in a half finished garage.only one wall has dry wall ceiling and other walls are bare.
 
Romex

Romex

Sparky09 said:
Hi i am a electrician apprentice and i was wondering if it was legal to staple romex to dry wall in a half finished garage.only one wall has dry wall ceiling and other walls are bare.[/QUOTE

Many years ago lots of garages that had open studs (Framework) were wired with romex (Usually the old type romex) In Southern California this is no longer permitted. In fact if a residential service is located on a garage wall with open studs, the usual method is to have carpenters build a chase that leads to the wall where the house proper begins. Then all of the home runs are protected and enclosed by this chase. This also eliminates having to change wiring types. For example from flex, bx, or other, to romex etc. Most places that I know about do not allow exposed romex in a garage or under a raised wooden floor. Hope this helps.

cadishead
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cadishead said:
Most places that I know about do not allow exposed romex in a garage or under a raised wooden floor.
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Exposed romex in unfinished garages is pretty much the standard here to this day. I just installed some in a garage the other day as a matter of fact. :)

We generally don't have the same beliefs about "physical damage" here that the rest of the country seems to have.
 
Strictly speaking the NEC does prohibit exposed NM in other than dwelling units. {2005 334.10(3)} A garage is not a dwelling unit.


From the 2008 ROP, read the panel statment.

7-45 Log #3087 NEC-P07 Final Action: Reject
(334.10(3))

Submitter: Joseph A. Hertel, Safety and Buildings

Recommendation: Substitute the following wording for 334.10 (intro)(3): Other structures permitted to be of Types III, IV and V construction except as prohibited in 334.12.

Substantiation: The language requiring that ?cables shall be concealed
within walls, floors, or ceilings that provide a thermal barrier of material that has at least a 15-minute finish rating? is not complied with and largely ignored in practice. Compliance would require that all installations in detached garages (Type V structures) where NM cables are installed, dairy and horse facilities (Type V structures) where UF cable is used and many other stand alone structures of Types III, IV or V construction would require gypsum wallboard to provide the 15-minute finish rating.

Panel Meeting Action: Reject

Panel Statement: Violations of the NEC requirements are not reason for changing requirements of the Code. The present text is inclusive of all ?Other Structures?. The substantiation addresses only unfinished garages and agriculture installations where Type UF cable is preferred. No substantiation has been submitted to address why the 15- minute finish rating for these and other commercial and non-residential installations should not be required. The panel advises the submitter that these installations might be more appropriately addressed under the Type UF Cable Article.

Number Eligible to Vote: 14

Ballot Results: Affirmative: 13 Negative: 1
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No substantiation has been submitted to address why the 15- minute finish rating for these and other commercial and non-residential installations should not be required.
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They are telling us that NM needs a 15- minute finish rating even in a garage.
 
It use to be done a lot in my area too. But not accepted anymore. It has to be concealed within the walls/ceiling if using NM.
 
iwire said:
I don't know, aren't those generally sheet rocked for fire code?
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For a typical ranch or colonial with an attached garage, the common wall is sheetrocked and the rest of the garage is exposed framing.

For a raised ranch or any other type of house with an integral garage, then yes it's all sheetrocked.

I see and work in many homes that have garages with exposed framing.
 
peter d said:
I see and work in many homes that have garages with exposed framing.
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Looks like you need to start using MC, MCAP or AC cable.

Or you could be bold and go with PVC coated, stainless RMC. :grin:
 
iwire said:
Looks like you need to start using MC, MCAP or AC cable.

Or you could be bold and go with PVC coated, stainless RMC. :grin:
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I'm certainly willing to change my ways....











....once inspectors start requiring it to be done. :D



All kidding aside, I was not aware of this before, and I certainly don't think anyone else is around here either. Learn something new every day. :)
 
The reason that many inspectors don't like seeing it exposed in the garage, is that home owners find that it's a great to hang the garden tools on. and they slap shelves up against the wall and what not.

If the garage is being sheetrocked then I see no problem, but other wise I'm like Bob and would stick to AC or MC or even flex.
 
Romex in garage

In my jurisdiction romex is allowed IN THE WALL it is presumed that the walls will be covered later with rock or plywood. Most new homes finish garage with sheetrock and not painted or tape it. Homeowner can do later. but at least the cables are protected from physical damage. I went into one house where the housewife was using the romex cables to hang clothes on to dry. needless to say it caused physical damage.
 
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