Romex stapled to bottom of floor joists

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ACP

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Curious what year it became code to require romex wires smaller than 8/3 awg to be drilled through floor joists and not stapled to the underside of them. It's always been something I've known not to do since starting in 2000. The reason I am asking if for a realtor. She had a home inspector flag it on a home they are selling. By the looks of it, it appears to have been done in the 80's.
 
Forgive me I don't do much Romex, but say a celling is dropped down with 2x4 running the opposite way of the floor joists are you not allow to properly support with staples to the floor joists?

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I'm assuming you mean when strung perpendicular to the joists ? You're free to staple wires running along the edge (even bottom) of the joist. In the 1968 code (probably earlier) it was already required in unfinished basements to run them on running boards or through holes.
 
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nickelec said:
Forgive me I don't do much Romex, but say a celling is dropped down with 2x4 running the opposite way of the floor joists are you not allow to properly support with staples to the floor joists?
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Use of running boards is a valid option to the bored holes. What they're trying to avoid is people hanging things on cables ron across the joists.
 
rnatalie said:
I'm assuming you mean when strung perpendicular to the joists ? You're free to staple wires running along the edge (even bottom) of the joist. In the 1968 code (probably earlier) it was already required in unfinished basements to run them on running boards or through holes.
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Thank you rnatalie! Yes, i am referring to the romex running perpendicular to the floor joist. A bit surprised to hear it was code back in 1968 but this is exactly what i was trying to better understand.
 
It probably goes back to the days when Romex first became legal. 1968 is just the oldest NEC that they have online.
 
The first NEC I tested on was the 1965, and the 2 - #6 or 3 - #8 limit on NM run perpendicular under floor joists was there, then.
 
ACP said:
Curious what year it became code to require romex wires smaller than 8/3 awg to be drilled through floor joists and not stapled to the underside of them. It's always been something I've known not to do since starting in 2000. The reason I am asking if for a realtor. She had a home inspector flag it on a home they are selling. By the looks of it, it appears to have been done in the 80's.
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Wow, I never heard of this! And what if there are TGI's that are there in parallel with some joists. Can't drill thru those!
 
PowerMan2020 said:
Wow, I never heard of this! And what if there are TGI's that are there in parallel with some joists. Can't drill thru those!
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Still have the option of running boards. You can drill through TGI joints, you just have to follow the rules about where. You have to read the instructions but typically small holes are permitted in the web as long as you stay 6" away horizontally and vertically from support points and 3" from larger holes.
 
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