Support a raceway with another raceway

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faraday2000

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Does the NEC allow a raceway to be used to support another raceway?

For example can you use an exiting emt pipe and attach to it a mineral strap and then use this to support another emt?
 
faraday2000 said:
Does the NEC allow a raceway to be used to support another raceway?

For example can you use an exiting emt pipe and attach to it a mineral strap and then use this to support another emt?
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No, not generally.


300.10(B) Raceways Used as Means of Support. Raceways shall be used only as a means of support for other race-ways, cables, or nonelectrical equipment under any of the following conditions:

(1) Where the raceway or means of support is identified for the purpose

(2) Where the raceway contains power supply conductors for electrically controlled equipment and is used to sup-port Class 2 circuit conductors or cables that are solely for the purpose of connection to the equipment control circuits

(3) Where the raceway is used to support boxes or conduit bodies in accordance with 314.23 or to support lumi-naires in accordance with 410.36(E)
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It's not permitted although I do see it quite often in the field. Personally I don't see a problem using a Mineralac strap to support a piece of 3/4" EMT from a larger conduit especially on a big pipe rack but the NEC says NG.
 
Erico(Caddy) has clips designed for just this.
ex. 1/2" emt to 1/2" emt, 3/4" emt to 1/2" emt, 3/4" emt to 3/4" emt.
not sure how they list them though.
 
Wow lots of replys...... Thanks

That's what I thought the NEC says, but at work a guy told me you are allowed because he saw other people doing it.
 
faraday2000 said:
Wow lots of replys...... Thanks

That's what I thought the NEC says, but at work a guy told me you are allowed because he saw other people doing it.
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If it's a horizontal run and you have your first mini anchored to the ceiling you can put a second mini nose to nose and then support your next pipe from that. The first pipe could be eliminated and the second one is still supported. That's one way to do it and still be up to code.
 
faraday2000 said:
Wow lots of replys...... Thanks

but at work a guy told me you are allowed because he saw other people doing it.
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Ahhhh, it's the old "a friend of a friend said it's alright because his friend always does it and he never had a problem". ;):D

Roger
 
iwire said:
That is only to be used if the supporting conduit is not being used as a raceway.
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Are you permitted to use conduit (most likely RMC) as a structural support for equipment, if you aren't also using it as a raceway.

I'm aware that RMC is intentionally weaker in terms of yield strength, than plumbing or fence pipe of the same dimensions. Probably so that it can be bent.
 
Carultch said:
Are you permitted to use conduit (most likely RMC) as a structural support for equipment, if you aren't also using it as a raceway.

I'm aware that RMC is intentionally weaker in terms of yield strength, than plumbing or fence pipe of the same dimensions. Probably so that it can be bent.
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Yes, as Bob stated, as long as the conduit or tubing is not also being used as a raceway.
 
Carultch said:
Are you permitted to use conduit (most likely RMC) as a structural support for equipment, if you aren't also using it as a raceway..
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Reverse that. Are we prohibited from using it?

Seeing that you are a MA guy next time you are in a warehouse type store take a look above and see what is supporting the lighting. Most of the time if the lighting is not directly under a truss you will see 3/4" EMT spanning the trusses up in the decking ribs supporting the fixtures.

At Lowes they specify strut so don't bother looking there. :)
 
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