Wet Location, Slab Conduit

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M_J_C

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The article 100 definition of "Location, Wet" includes 'installations....in concrete slabs.....in direct contact with the earth'.

Lets say we have ground level concrete slab, say 75' x 150' (the size isn't a deciding factor) and there is a basement under 3/4's of this slab. The ground level slab has PVC conduit embedded in for HR's and kitchen island's etc., some of those conduits turn down out of the this slab to be terminated in enclosures mounted on the basement walls.

According to the definition above, all of the conduits in the ground level slab would be considered a wet location, even if they were not in the earth or even in the portion of the concrete slab that is directly above the earth. This is a problem for phone and data wiring, because none of the indoor wire available is rated for wet locations and none of the wet location wire (flooded or direct burial) is rated for indoor use (cl2/3).

Also, if the conduits were really 'wet' wouldn't my biggest problem be water continuously pouring out of the conduits into my enclosures in the basement?

Am I missing something?
 
Yes, I understand the options for branch circuit wiring, but its the phone and data cable that's a problem.

I guess I venting more than anything, because the wire industry & CMP's have boxed me/us in this situation. I need to get something accomplished, but there is no 'approved' way of getting it accomplished.
 
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Bob,
The NEC would not require the use of a wet location cable, but successful operation of the system might. There was a white paper a few years ago that said that even the use of wire pulling lube could have a effect on the operation of data cables.

It appears that the OP wants to avoid any possible issues caused by the water, and as he stated, most wet location communication cables are not listed for use inside buildings.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
Bob,
The NEC would not require the use of a wet location cable, but successful operation of the system might.
Click to expand...

Of course.



It appears that the OP wants to avoid any possible issues caused by the water, and as he stated, most wet location communication cables are not listed for use inside buildings.
Click to expand...

I read it differently


M_J_C said:
if the conduits were really 'wet' wouldn't my biggest problem be water continuously pouring out of the conduits into my enclosures in the basement?
Click to expand...
 
I do not believe that conduit in a slab that is not in contact with the earth needs to have wet location wire. If the slab were in the basement slab or in a portion of the slab that has no basement, I would say yes.

Sure they make telephone and cable wire rated for wet location but , of course, it is outdoor wire. Phone & cable company use it all the time.
 
M_J_C said:
According to the definition above, all of the conduits in the ground level slab would be considered a wet location, even if they were not in the earth or even in the portion of the concrete slab that is directly above the earth. This is a problem for phone and data wiring, because none of the indoor wire available is rated for wet locations and none of the wet location wire (flooded or direct burial) is rated for indoor use (cl2/3).
Click to expand...

IMO the portion of the slab over the basement is not a wet location.
 
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