What defines a raceway

A

AndrewPH1994

Member
Location
Colorado
Occupation
Master Electrician
Hi. I have a situation at work. Where we have a DC UPS battery bank, being fed from a converter/inverter ATS, that is a parallel feed to a fused disconnect and then to the battery bank. We used Chase nipples and cable tray. I was told that the cable tray is a raceway. But art 392.2 defines it as a support structure and that the chase nipples is also a raceway but according to the UL-514B it’s a fitting. The real question is do we run 2 equipment grounding conductor? Which according to 250.120 (F)(1)(A) says I don’t. I’m saying I don’t need to. But yet I’m told I have to… nothing in the specs say. Im
Asking this to learn. Thank you.
 
250.122 (C) and (F) are the articles that let you use a single EGC in the tray. At the end of each run, if you go through any kind of pipe I would tap the ground and run a full size EGC through each pipe to the termination.

I believe the reasoning is that you will have far less reactance during a fault if you have a ground in the same pipe as the faulted conductors.
 
Cable trays are not a raceway they are merely a support system for the conductors. A chase nipple doesn't exactly meet the Article 100 definition of a fitting.
 
HarrySlother said:
Per Nec 100, post the same NeC 250.120 and not using any conduit per code I don’t need to even do that….
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HarrySlother said:
250.122 (C) and (F) are the articles that let you use a single EGC in the tray. At the end of each run, if you go through any kind of pipe I would tap the ground and run a full size EGC through each pipe to the termination. I believe the reasoning is that you will have far less reactance during a fault if you have a ground in the same pipe as the faulted conductors.
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infinity said:
Cable trays are not a raceway they are merely a support system for the conductors. A chase nipple doesn't exactly meet the Article 100 definition of a fitting.
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Fitting: An accessory such as a locknut, bushing, or other part of a wiring system that is intended primarily to perform a mechanical rather than an electrical function.

Per the UL listings it’s a fitting.

A chase nipple is a fitting.

Yes I know cable tray is a support system.
 
As Infinity said, the NEC definition is what matters... a raceway is: "An enclosed channel designed expressly for holding wires, cables, or busbars..."

Seems to be a raceway by NEC standards.
 
AndrewPH1994 said:
Fitting: An accessory such as a locknut, bushing, or other part of a wiring system that is intended primarily to perform a mechanical rather than an electrical function.

Per the UL listings it’s a fitting.

A chase nipple is a fitting.
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We may be spliting hairs but per Article 100 it is not a fitting as it is used to enclose conductors and does not only provide a mechanical function such as a locknut.
 
infinity said:
We may be spliting hairs but per Article 100 it is not a fitting as it is used to enclose conductors and does not only provide a mechanical function such as a locknut.
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See below as we must also follow UL listings and UL listing says it’s a fitting
HarrySlother said:
As Infinity said, the NEC definition is what matters... a raceway is: "An enclosed channel designed expressly for holding wires, cables, or busbars..."

Seems to be a raceway by NEC standards.
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NEC says we follow manufacturers guidelines and UL listing it’s a fitting. And yes it does a mechanical job as well. This is a chase nipple not a close nipple. It’s not a raceway. Look up raceway.
 
AndrewPH1994 said:
I’m not only going off NEC 100 but I am going of the UL listings because in art 110 it says we must follow manufacturers guidelines as well. Hence why the UL listing is for a fitting.
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It says follow the listing and labeling instructions...that has nothing to do with calling it a fitting or a raceway.
 
AndrewPH1994 said:
See below as we must also follow UL listings and UL listing says it’s a fitting

NEC says we follow manufacturers guidelines and UL listing it’s a fitting. And yes it does a mechanical job as well. This is a chase nipple not a close nipple. It’s not a raceway. Look up raceway.
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Raceway.
An enclosed channel designed expressly for holding wires, cables, or busbars, with additional functions as permitted in this Code. (CMP-8)
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It very clearly fits the code definition of a raceway. Its purpose is to provide a path for conductors and a fitting does not provide a path for conductors.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
It very clearly fits the code definition of a raceway. Its purpose is to provide a path for conductors and a fitting does not provide a path for conductors.
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I agree. Although this might run afoul with that UL calls it the Article 100 definitions are pretty clear. If it suits one's purpose to use the UL listing to call a chase nipple a fitting there is nothing wrong with that either.
 
I am going to require an EGC in each point that the circuit conductors leave the tray, if they leave through the side wall of the tray. What you choose to call the chase nipple will not change that for me.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
It very clearly fits the code definition of a raceway. Its purpose is to provide a path for conductors and a fitting does not provide a path for conductors.
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Seems to me "holding wires" (from the definition of raceway) is a "mechanical rather than an electrical function" (from the definition of fitting).

So I'd say that a chase nipple or a raceway connector is both a fitting and a raceway.

Cheers, Wayne
 
Even if you call them fittings (which I disagree with), I fail to see how you can get away with a single EGC.

NEC 250.122 (C) and (F) only allow a single EGC if it's installed in the same "raceway, cable, trench, or cable tray". Doesn't say anything about fittings, so I'd assume you would still need (2) EGCs, one for each "fitting".
 
Is the scenario in the OP two parallel sets of conductors, installed as enclosure - chase nipple(s) - single cable tray?

If so, with just one chase nipple, clearly only one EGC is required. Seems like with two chase nipples, you would need you have separate EGCs through each chase nipple (assuming the cable tray and chase nipples don't count as an EGC). If splicing a wire-type EGC in the cable tray is not allowed, that would mean separate EGCs throughout the cable tray run.

But why would you use two separate chase nipples?

Cheers, Wayne
 
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