I'm wiring a pole building with commercial girts (basically horizontal studs). The way that it is built, the 2x6 girts are off set to the outside of the 6x6 frame posts by 1 1/2 inches so that they line up with the trusses which creates a flat surface for the sheet metal siding to lay against. Because of this there is a 1 1/2 space between the siding and the posts. My question is this- Can I run the romex along the girts as normal and then run it through that space (around the post) instead of drilling a hole clear through it? I know from the inside there must be at least 1 1/4 space from romex hole to edge. What about exterior side? If someone were to drill/nail from the outside they would know there is nothing solid behind the sheet metal at the post until they penetrate 1 1/2 inches and you can clearly see the rows of screws. What do you think?
wiring a pole building
- Thread starter dirthack
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tonyi
Senior Member
Re: wiring a pole building
Depending on the height of the wiring and the intended usage of the building you might have an exposure to physical damage issue if the NM is installed as described.
Since exposure to physical damage is very much a judgment call on the part of the inspector, you might do well to call whoever is going to inspect this job and describe the situation before going out on a limb.
For not a lot of $ you could just sleeve the really exposed areas through a "U" shaped section of RNC where it would wrap around a beam.
Depending on the height of the wiring and the intended usage of the building you might have an exposure to physical damage issue if the NM is installed as described.
Since exposure to physical damage is very much a judgment call on the part of the inspector, you might do well to call whoever is going to inspect this job and describe the situation before going out on a limb.
For not a lot of $ you could just sleeve the really exposed areas through a "U" shaped section of RNC where it would wrap around a beam.
websparky
Senior Member
- Location
- Cleveland, Ohio
Re: wiring a pole building
I don't believe you will be able to satisfy this requirement.
I don't believe you will be able to satisfy this requirement.
A
a.wayne3@verizon.net
Guest
Re: wiring a pole building
Dave I agree 300.4 D would not be met,but what if the roofing metal was 1.6mm 1/16th. in.thick???
Dave I agree 300.4 D would not be met,but what if the roofing metal was 1.6mm 1/16th. in.thick???
Re: wiring a pole building
Thanks for the replies. I was going to show some pictures of it but I guess I can't do that. To do a test, I took a piece of 2x6 and drilled a 5/8 hole in it with the edge of the hole right at 1 1/4 from the edge of the 2x6. I laid it up against the 6x6 pole to simulate the construction of the framework and routed the nm cable through the hole and around the post. So in this case it seems as though I've met the code requirement. I could probably move the hole closer to 1 1/2 and still get the cable through. As the cable is passing through the air space between pole and siding, it is away from a framing member so normally nobody would penetrate the siding in that space because there is nothing to grab except for the thin sheet metal siding. This would be similar to someone nailing into T-111 siding where there is no stud.
I know the obvious answer is to check with the inspector to make sure but I can only call them on fridays between 8-9 am.
The stupid part is, in the time I've spent on the internet I could of just bored holes through the posts! But each post is sandwiched between a 2x6 on each side so that is almost 10 inches I'd have to drill through every 12 ft.
Thanks for the replies. I was going to show some pictures of it but I guess I can't do that. To do a test, I took a piece of 2x6 and drilled a 5/8 hole in it with the edge of the hole right at 1 1/4 from the edge of the 2x6. I laid it up against the 6x6 pole to simulate the construction of the framework and routed the nm cable through the hole and around the post. So in this case it seems as though I've met the code requirement. I could probably move the hole closer to 1 1/2 and still get the cable through. As the cable is passing through the air space between pole and siding, it is away from a framing member so normally nobody would penetrate the siding in that space because there is nothing to grab except for the thin sheet metal siding. This would be similar to someone nailing into T-111 siding where there is no stud.
I know the obvious answer is to check with the inspector to make sure but I can only call them on fridays between 8-9 am.
The stupid part is, in the time I've spent on the internet I could of just bored holes through the posts! But each post is sandwiched between a 2x6 on each side so that is almost 10 inches I'd have to drill through every 12 ft.
websparky
Senior Member
- Location
- Cleveland, Ohio
Re: wiring a pole building
Please notice that this covers ALL "Cables and Raceways Parallel to Framing Members"!
The only method allowed with this type of construction AND the location of where you will be trying to install the conductors is listed below.
Please notice that this covers ALL "Cables and Raceways Parallel to Framing Members"!
The only method allowed with this type of construction AND the location of where you will be trying to install the conductors is listed below.
Re: wiring a pole building
I thought I'd give an update on this. I called and talked to an inspector and he said it was OK to do it the way I wanted to (by going around the post as shown by websparky's drawing). He agreed that it was unlikely that anybody would penetrate the siding in that area.
The inspector came out and signed off for the ditch, service, and cover all at the same time. The PUD came out and connected the power. I then installed the receptacles, switches and fixtures. I called back for a final and they told me I had already passed the final. So the inspector never did check anything with live power or check any of the finish work.
Is this normal? My thinking was that he must have been impressed enough with the work I had already done that he was sure I would do the finish work correctly too, and it's just a pole barn. Dunno........but I wasn't going to argue with them if I had the final......
I thought I'd give an update on this. I called and talked to an inspector and he said it was OK to do it the way I wanted to (by going around the post as shown by websparky's drawing). He agreed that it was unlikely that anybody would penetrate the siding in that area.
The inspector came out and signed off for the ditch, service, and cover all at the same time. The PUD came out and connected the power. I then installed the receptacles, switches and fixtures. I called back for a final and they told me I had already passed the final. So the inspector never did check anything with live power or check any of the finish work.
Is this normal? My thinking was that he must have been impressed enough with the work I had already done that he was sure I would do the finish work correctly too, and it's just a pole barn. Dunno........but I wasn't going to argue with them if I had the final......
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