Hi guys. Is it legal to run MC down an exposed wall in a warehouse, or is EMT required wherever possible? I’m doing work for a tenant and the landlord is making a big deal out of me running MC down the walls for outlets. I told him EMT would be too labor extensive as there are a ton of pipes running across where I need to drop. Is running EMT REQUIRED down a wall?
Running MC vs. EMT
- Thread starter Dansos
- Start date
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mwm1752
Senior Member
- Location
- Aspen, Colo
Is it subject to physical damage? If the landlord is willing to pay why not?
I’m not sure I would say it’s “subject to damage”. It will be running approx 10’ on a wooden ceiling joist and then down a studded wall protected on one side with OSB and open on the other side. The landlord is NOT paying for any of this work. The tenant is paying for everything and I don’t want to have to charge him more unless I have to.
jumper
Senior Member
- Location
- 3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
All vertical runs in the open bays. Down the stud .
No horizontal runs across the bays?
Coppersmith
Senior Member
- Location
- Tampa, FL, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
As long as it's not subject to physical damage, it's OK to use MC. Warehouses have forklift trucks, handtrucks, carts, and the like that can bump into walls so you have to decide if that's a problem. It's also OK to use EMT from the outlet to the point where damage will not be probable and then change over to MC.
mwm1752
Senior Member
- Location
- Aspen, Colo
I'd call your local inspector his opinion is important -- not good to have inspection only to find out his/her views are different fro this forum
jumper
Senior Member
- Location
- 3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
Fulthrotl
~Autocorrect is My Worst Enema.~
- Occupation
- E
that is the next part of this. we have to draw straws to see who from here goes out and signs it
off, after we all agree on what it should look like.
me, i call it ocal and sealoffs. better safe than sorry.
hm. it's philly. i'll call and let peter know it's his signoff.
PetrosA
Senior Member
- Location
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
I'll back up Randy. Ocal, sealoffs, lockable stainless steel in-use covers and an impressed current cathodic protection system.
PetrosA
Senior Member
- Location
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Joking aside, I would say that you have to make a judgement about what kind of physical protection is needed. MC might be enough, but if there are forklifts or vehicles driving around in there you might need more and EMT might not be adequate. It kind of sounds like this is running down the side of a stud on a wall that won't get finished both sides. If so, I would say the stud offers the protection you need.
Fulthrotl
~Autocorrect is My Worst Enema.~
- Occupation
- E
wow. i'm impressed. so i guess it worked.
however, i just got out of the dentists chair, and the novocain
hasn't worn off much, so i'm easily influenced.
lordofthisworld
Senior Member
- Location
- Massachusetts
Physical damage issue.
KnightPower
Member
- Location
- US
Touchy subject that could be cleared up like the others said with quick call to inspections dept.
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Thanks for all the responses guys. The building is very old and has 6x10” wooden beams as joists on the ceiling in question. My pull box is attached to th face of said beam. So I would be coming out the top side of my box and running along the beam to the wall. Beam is approx 12’ high and I do not see anything causing damage to it up there. It will run along the beam and go through the top of the wall where I will be installing the box for the outlet. It WILL NOT be going ACROSS any studs. Just straight down to the box. Is there any CODE CITATION about this or is this a total judgement call?
jumper
Senior Member
- Location
- 3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
Unfortunately, judgement call unless you have an amendment in your favor.
Could be worse....
Where I am now, any wiring below 7’ is considered subject to physical damage per local code.:blink:
Amendment works against me.
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
Sounds fine. Subject to physical damage is a judgement call, but like kwired is fond of saying, Everything is subject to physical damage, how much is is the question. EMT does not sound any more robust in this case.
jumper
Senior Member
- Location
- 3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
I agree. Straight down the side of a stud and no crossing bays. MC!
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
If you are worried about forklift traffic hitting it. EMT is every bit as "subject to damage" from forklifts as MC is.
In fact MC being more resilient than EMT it may be less subject to forklift damage.
In fact MC being more resilient than EMT it may be less subject to forklift damage.
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