BrentB
Member
- Location
- Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Occupation
- Engineer
I toured a dairy plant recently that used welded sanitary tubing as electrical conduits (Raceway). All the connections to junction boxes and panels used tubing, those connections were also welded. Although I see the advantage from a waterproofing and sanitary design perspective, (bacteria love small crevices like threads,) I don't see how this could be called compliant to NEC section 300.18B, and sanitary tubing is not an approved raceway. The plant claims that the local AHJ has toured the plant and not raised the issue. Could the local AHJ actually approve something that is in conflict with the Code? Discussions with the plant electrician said that the practice is not uncommon in several of the local dairy plants. I don't want to stir up a hornet's nest, but I can't write up an installation spec for something that I consider non-compliant. Any thoughts?