UF cable

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tmbrk

tmbrk

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Illinois
Can type UF cable be run vertically along the siding of a dwelling as long as it is rated as sunlight resistant? Or would this be considered subject to physical damage? I have to come out of an indoor panel, exit the building and run for about 15' to an AC disconnect. Is this code compliant? I usually don't work with cable because it is not allowed in most areas I work in, so this is a new one for me.
Thanks for any input.
 
It is likely your local AHJ will consider any exposed non-metallic cabling method as subject to physical damage. A simple solution is to install the cable within a recognized raceway between enclosures.
 
Thanks for your replies.
The reason I ask is that an existing AC unit the HO says was installed three years ago was done this way but is right next to the meter and behind the panel. The UF comes out of the house and right up into the disconnect.

I know what 340.12(10) states but as I am new to cable, I didn't know what would be considered "subject to physical damage". I will put it in a raceway as suggested.

Thanks again for your replies guys.:smile:
 
Check with your local building department. This is interpreted widely across the nation. I know other states that permit service entrance cable to be run exposed along the surface of the outside wall of a dwelling into the meter and/or main enclosure without any protection what so ever. I imagine if unfused and unprotected SER cable is acceptable; a branch circuit to an A/C unit would be as well.

This would not be approved here in Florida.
 
I would not have a problem with UF coming out of the side of a house and entering the bottom of a disco, (even though it would look like garbage) I would prefer to come into the back of a disco, but as far as "subject to physical damage" I don't see what it's subject to...
 
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stickboy1375 said:
I would not have a problem with UF coming out of the side of a house and entering the bottom of a disco, (even though it would look like garbage) I would prefer to come into the back of a disco, but as far as "subject to physical damage" I don't see what it's subject to...
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I have seen wires damaged from weed eaters, other garden equipment, dogs, squirrels, rats, kids, junk, you name it...definitely recommend a sleeve for protection. Even if the wire is a few feet above the ground, as far as I am concerned it is subject to damage, subject to heavy damage is another story altogether. Personally I would never install UF exposed outside (personally, I don't even like SE cable). Here in south Florida, we are required to use schedule 80 or rigid for such applications at or near ground level. When I first moved here, I thought it was a little picky, but isn't it better to be safe than sorry?

Side point on SE cable...I have a friend who was working on a residential project which had SE on the side of the house for the service cable (a very common practice). The cable guy needed to drill a hole to bring the cable into the home, etc. He drilled right into the SE cable. To make a long story short, a new transformer was installed later that day by the power company. Would installing the service cable within rigid helped the matter...definitely.
Fortunately, the cable guy wasn't injured, but the same could not be said of the siding around the burnt wiring.
 
bphgravity said:
Check with your local building department. This is interpreted widely across the nation. I know other states that permit service entrance cable to be run exposed along the surface of the outside wall of a dwelling into the meter and/or main enclosure without any protection what so ever. I imagine if unfused and unprotected SER cable is acceptable; a branch circuit to an A/C unit would be as well.

This would not be approved here in Florida.
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Bryan
Does that mean that SE cable is not permitted in Florida?
 
bstoin said:
Side point on SE cable...I have a friend who was working on a residential project which had SE on the side of the house for the service cable (a very common practice). The cable guy needed to drill a hole to bring the cable into the home, etc. He drilled right into the SE cable. To make a long story short, a new transformer was installed later that day by the power company. Would installing the service cable within rigid helped the matter...definitely.
Fortunately, the cable guy wasn't injured, but the same could not be said of the siding around the burnt wiring.
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Do you really think pvc would have stopped that bit? c'mon, the only thing that would have helped that guy out is common sense.... what, he didn't see the panel when he got his drill out?
 
I was amazed when I moved from Florida to SC. Does FL. still require ridged conduit for exposed section for underground service entrance. I always had to run ridged down and wide sweep for utility. Here in SC. you just mount the meter can, wire load side and they do the rest.
 
I have and will run UF exposed on the outside surface of a building.
"Subject to damage" is a subjective term.
Ultimately, it's a judgement call by the AHJ as to whether or not it's "exposed to damage".
I use common sense when running exposed cable , and if in my mind it's subject to get cut, scraped, broken or otherwise damaged during the normal activities that occur in it's surrounding environment, I put it in conduit.
Nothing in this world is completely safe from some idiot that's determined to cause damage.
If it's not allowed to run it exposed, why insert the terminology "subject to damage" in the code? Why not say....Not to be run exposed....period.
Plus, it's rated for exposure to sunlight.
Not much sunlight inside a conduit.
just my opinion
steve
 
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