zemingduan
Senior Member
- Location
- Philadelphia,PA
- Occupation
- Electrical Designer
Hi guys does NEC allow you to run MC cable/Romex Cable behind the baseboard? I know NEC require the MC, Romex cable to be protected from the physical damage. And I know It is not recommended and is not a good idea to run them behind the baseboard since you don't want the nails damage the cables.
However, for the old houses and historical buildings with solid wall, there are many situations that the architect asks to install the receptacle outlets in the baseboard and conceal the wiring inside the baseboard. Seems many architects don't like the look of surface mounted raceway for many historical buildings.
I found NEC 300.4 Protection Against Physical Damage
(F) Cables and Raceways Installed in Shallow Grooves
Cable- or raceway-type wiring methods installed in a groove, to be covered by wallboard, siding, paneling, carpeting, or similar finish, shall be protected by 1.6 mm (1/16 in.) thick steel plate, sleeve, or equivalent or by not less than 32-mm (11/4-in.) free space for the full length of the groove in which the cable or raceway is installed.
Exception No. 1: Steel plates, sleeves, or the equivalent shall not be required to protect rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, rigid nonmetallic conduit, or electrical metallic tubing.
Exception No. 2: A listed and marked steel plate less than 1.6 mm (1/16 in.) thick that provides equal or better protection against nail or screw penetration shall be permitted.
It seems that NEC allow you to install behind the baseboard as long as you leave 1-1/4" free space. I am also thinking to ask rigid metal conduit behind the baseboard for the wiring. Is it feasible? Not sure in most cases if you can have enough space for the rigid metal conduit behind the baseboard.
Thanks,
However, for the old houses and historical buildings with solid wall, there are many situations that the architect asks to install the receptacle outlets in the baseboard and conceal the wiring inside the baseboard. Seems many architects don't like the look of surface mounted raceway for many historical buildings.
I found NEC 300.4 Protection Against Physical Damage
(F) Cables and Raceways Installed in Shallow Grooves
Cable- or raceway-type wiring methods installed in a groove, to be covered by wallboard, siding, paneling, carpeting, or similar finish, shall be protected by 1.6 mm (1/16 in.) thick steel plate, sleeve, or equivalent or by not less than 32-mm (11/4-in.) free space for the full length of the groove in which the cable or raceway is installed.
Exception No. 1: Steel plates, sleeves, or the equivalent shall not be required to protect rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, rigid nonmetallic conduit, or electrical metallic tubing.
Exception No. 2: A listed and marked steel plate less than 1.6 mm (1/16 in.) thick that provides equal or better protection against nail or screw penetration shall be permitted.
It seems that NEC allow you to install behind the baseboard as long as you leave 1-1/4" free space. I am also thinking to ask rigid metal conduit behind the baseboard for the wiring. Is it feasible? Not sure in most cases if you can have enough space for the rigid metal conduit behind the baseboard.
Thanks,