Question from student,emt can be considered supported run horizontal above bar joist and secured with in 3 ft of a j box ,the question from student which he has done and was inspected and passed is it legal to use standard tie wire to secure conduit to bar joist within 3 feet of box? I said no it must be a listed type support fitting. I can not find a reference to tie wire ,has anyone have any thoughts on this subject. thank you eelecduck
support of emt
- Thread starter eelecduck
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
Re: support of emt
358.30(A) states securely fastened.
358.30(A) states securely fastened.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Re: support of emt
If you require the use of listed securing and supporting devices, then we have a big problem. Most of the devices commonly used for that purpose are not listed products. By the way, I think that the use of tie wire is often a much more secure method of securing and supporting raceways than the spring clips sold for the purpose.
Don
[ February 09, 2006, 07:17 AM: Message edited by: don_resqcapt19 ]
If you require the use of listed securing and supporting devices, then we have a big problem. Most of the devices commonly used for that purpose are not listed products. By the way, I think that the use of tie wire is often a much more secure method of securing and supporting raceways than the spring clips sold for the purpose.
Don
[ February 09, 2006, 07:17 AM: Message edited by: don_resqcapt19 ]
Re: support of emt
Don't forget the glorious 5' exemption.
Perhaps the best [informal] test is what I call the handrail test. If you are up there walking on those slippery steel joists and start to lose your balance and you grab a run of EMT, will it save your neck or will some cheap, tin-can grade one hole strap spring open and expose you to the Newton's apple phenomenon?
Usually tie wire is 16 gauge and is black and oily and most electricians doub
le it up. It would be nice to have some galvanized, heavier gauge wire to work with. Scraps of #12 copper seem to work.
How about plumber's tape -- that 3/4" wide strip of steel with all the holes in it?
UniStrut is probably the strongest support we have. I agre that the Caddy clips are somewhat bogus but they do seem to satisfy the inspectors.
Wouldn't trust them to my handrail test though.
Instead of flat black, they should color code them. [This is experience talking: I just need one to affix 3/4" to a 1/8" bar joist and when I get up there, I discover that somebody tossed the wrong one into the wrong box.]
~Peter
Don't forget the glorious 5' exemption.
Perhaps the best [informal] test is what I call the handrail test. If you are up there walking on those slippery steel joists and start to lose your balance and you grab a run of EMT, will it save your neck or will some cheap, tin-can grade one hole strap spring open and expose you to the Newton's apple phenomenon?
Usually tie wire is 16 gauge and is black and oily and most electricians doub
le it up. It would be nice to have some galvanized, heavier gauge wire to work with. Scraps of #12 copper seem to work.
How about plumber's tape -- that 3/4" wide strip of steel with all the holes in it?
UniStrut is probably the strongest support we have. I agre that the Caddy clips are somewhat bogus but they do seem to satisfy the inspectors.
Wouldn't trust them to my handrail test though.
Instead of flat black, they should color code them. [This is experience talking: I just need one to affix 3/4" to a 1/8" bar joist and when I get up there, I discover that somebody tossed the wrong one into the wrong box.]
~Peter
Re: support of emt
Best answer I ever got from an inspector about this was in the form of a question. He asked if it was tie-wire or bailing-wire? He caught me completly off guard so I asked him what differance that made. He relpied with a grin that bailing-wire was only allowed on farms and that as long as it was tie-wire I was okay to use it!
Best answer I ever got from an inspector about this was in the form of a question. He asked if it was tie-wire or bailing-wire? He caught me completly off guard so I asked him what differance that made. He relpied with a grin that bailing-wire was only allowed on farms and that as long as it was tie-wire I was okay to use it!
hardworkingstiff
Senior Member
- Location
- Wilmington, NC
Since it is above the bar joist, all you are doing is keeping the conduit from moving laterally, the weight is supported by the bar joist not the tie wire. Another option would be ty-wraps. Some of those have a 50-lb rating.
- Status