I was taught many years ago that Conduit entering a box or condulet must be strapped no closer than 12 inches and no further than 3 feet, the current code 2014 only recognizes within 3 feet from a box. Need some help with this one please what happened to the 12 inch minimum rule?
What happened to the 12 minimum from a box for strapping to within 3 feet of a box no
- Thread starter DanMiller
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big john
Senior Member
- Location
- Portland, ME
Sounds like shirt-pocket code: I've never heard of a minimum rule ever existing.
- Location
- Placerville, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Retired PV System Designer
The fact that it is not required to be at least 12" from the box does not mean that you cannot place it more than 12" from the box if you want to.
I do not see what role a box offset plays here other than to make it less likely that you would choose to put a support close to the box.
If you choose to put your support in the middle of the curve of a box offset and can find a way to do it that is code compliant, more power to you. :happyyes:
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
Majority of raceways require support within first three feet of a termination of the raceway, most of the flexible conduits however do require first support within one foot.
There also is exceptions that allow for more then three feet, as well as more then the 12 inches for flexible conduits.
Many of us in the past figured because of how this is worded that a 3 foot length of raceway between two boxes was considered supported by those boxes, but then in 2011 they thought this three foot length needed a support no more then 18" from either end. I think they have changed that in 2014 but still is different then it was before 2011. But I still remember sitting in a CEU class with an inspector as the instructor and us discussing this some and coming to a reality conclusion that if you had a three foot length of 4 inch RMC between two cabinets - that strap the NEC thought we needed in that short length would be supported by the RMC much more so then the strap would have ever supported the RMC in such a situation.:roll:
There also is exceptions that allow for more then three feet, as well as more then the 12 inches for flexible conduits.
Many of us in the past figured because of how this is worded that a 3 foot length of raceway between two boxes was considered supported by those boxes, but then in 2011 they thought this three foot length needed a support no more then 18" from either end. I think they have changed that in 2014 but still is different then it was before 2011. But I still remember sitting in a CEU class with an inspector as the instructor and us discussing this some and coming to a reality conclusion that if you had a three foot length of 4 inch RMC between two cabinets - that strap the NEC thought we needed in that short length would be supported by the RMC much more so then the strap would have ever supported the RMC in such a situation.:roll:
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
There is no minimum distance and although 1" away from a solidly mounted box is a waste of material it would satisfy the within 3' rule.
growler
Senior Member
- Location
- Atlanta,GA
Some companies will teach a certain way of doing things just because that's the way the owner/supervisor likes to see it done. Other times there will be job specs with certain requirements that later get confused with code.
I agree withh big john and don't ever remember any minimum distance code.
But I have had to do many things just because the company wanted them done a certain way.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
I sometimes do strap a raceway nearly right next to the termination when the next easy place of support is beyond maximum distance to the first support. Depending on type of raceway/type of fitting, it does seem to help prevent broken fittings down the road.
MiElectrician
Member
- Location
- mi
When I'm putting boxes on joists that are more than 3 get apart and hang the box off the side so I can branch a parallel run I use a bang on right next to the box because the exception says the next available mounting location.
brantmacga
Señor Member
- Location
- Georgia
- Occupation
- Former Child
I use these ......
Various combinations available
https://m.erico.com/Category.html?category=R1307&country=us&language=en&applications=,
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Various combinations available
https://m.erico.com/Category.html?category=R1307&country=us&language=en&applications=,
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
MiElectrician
Member
- Location
- mi
I call them code keepers. They actually do a little to support, if you connect both sides to pipe, but their about 3 bucks a pop
- Location
- Massachusetts
I use these ......
I agree those are a joke, they do absolutely nothing for support all they do is meet the words in the book.
brantmacga
Señor Member
- Location
- Georgia
- Occupation
- Former Child
on the inspection. 
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