Wiring trough usage questions.

[4x4dually]

Our company has another building across the street, and we are going to move a lot of our test equipment into that building soon. I've selected a wall to place the racks with the most power demand that is opposite the 208 panel for the wing. There is a 208 panel that has zero breakers in it nippled to the main panel. My plan is to install a wiring trough on the wall and nipple straight through the wall into the open panel. Then we can install conduit drops to recepts wherever we need them. Since it's a test lab, racks may move in and out and power requirements can change over time. The wiring trough seems like a versatile way to let us move things around or add by simply punching a hole, adding conduit and a box, and shoving a few more wires into the panel with ease.

I'm by far not a code expert nor would I ever even claim to comprehend those section without reading them 12 times. Is there a certain type of wiring trough required since that is an occupied lab space, and the trough will be mounted low on the wall where employees can walk up and open it? Does it need to be a tray with a screwed-on cover, or can it be a clamped cover with hinges? We need to have easy access to the guts but not easy enough for it to be condemned if an OSHA inspector ever comes walking though. They've been known from time to time to just show up out of the blue. I'd want to put voltage stickers on it as warnings but that also grabs the eyes of inspectors.

This is a controlled access area meaning employees must pass a card reader to enter the area if that makes any difference. Not publicly accessible. Any advice would be super.

Quick AutoCAD drawing of the area.

 

[4x4dually]

Something like Wiegmann HS4410NK is what I had in mind.

 

[infinity]

So you're referring to a metal wireway mounted on the wall or is this trough something else?

 

[4x4dually]

So you're referring to a metal wireway mounted on the wall or is this trough something else?

Forgive me for lack of correct terminology. Something like a Wiegmann straight section wireway mounted directly on the wall. We can punch holes where ever the recepts are required and drop conduit straight down to a box mounted on the wall below it.

Just curious if having the metal wireway mounted low on the wall where it is easily accessible violates any codes.

Wall is 14 feet long. I can use two P/N HS446 and couple them together and cover 12 ft.

 

[Carultch]

Just curious if having the metal wireway mounted low on the wall where it is easily accessible violates any codes.

Since you need a tool to open the cover, the wire inside is considered "not readily accessible", which meets code well enough for most environments. Usually, these are in locked electrical rooms anyway, so it isn't an issue to keep out the general public. You could replace the screws with tamper resistant screws that need a special tool to unscrew, if you're concerned about unwanted tampering.

 

[4x4dually]

Since you need a tool to open the cover, the wire inside is considered "not readily accessible", which meets code well enough for most environments. Usually, these are in locked electrical rooms anyway, so it isn't an issue to keep out the general public. You could replace the screws with tamper resistant screws that need a special tool to unscrew, if you're concerned about unwanted tampering.

Thank you for the reply. I was hoping that was the case. I'll probably go with HS446NK. Having pre-punched knockouts is nice and all, but they will never be in the right spots. I think I'll just punch them with a knockout set where they are needed.

 

[electrofelon]

Having pre-punched knockouts is nice and all, but they will never be in the right spots. I think I'll just punch them with a knockout set where they are needed.

If I was king, every wireway and box with prepunched ko's would be rounded up and dropped into the Marianna trench. Anyone found making more would be shot. Survivors would be shot again.