Results 1 to 21 of 21
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    3

    Default Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    Had an electrician tell me today that local authority allows electrical wiring to touch metal piping as long as it is insulated and not spliced. I don't believe this is correct and have been calling out any contact as unsafe and recommend rerouting for safety. Any thoughts. Thanks for any comments in advance.

    OREP Insurance

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    1,970

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    The electrical code has no such requirement.

    - - - Updated - - -

    What are you perceiving as the hazard?

    All answers based on unamended National Electrical codes.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    I was thinking that pest(rodents) damage to the wirings insulation could cause the piping to become energized. I can't see where anyone would logically allow an energized wire to be in contact with a gas line.


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    Quote Originally Posted by Jody Humbert View Post
    I can't see where anyone would logically allow an energized wire to be in contact with a gas line.
    No one is allowing an energized wire to be in contact with a gas line - that is why the wiring has insulation around the conductors and is either in a sheath (such as NM cable) or in a raceway (single wiring such as TW, THW, THHN/THWN, etc.).

    When the gas line is installed properly (gas line bonded to ground as required) and the wiring (as NM cable or in a raceway) is installed properly, the hazard is mitigated by both the insulation and outer sheath or insulation and raceway, and, the gas line being bonded to ground.

    Kind of like NM cable run through metal studs, the metal studs are bonded to ground.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    SO it is ok for the wiring to be in contact with any piping or HVAC ducting. I will adjust my reporting accordingly. Thanks for your input.


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Ben Lomond, CA
    Posts
    72

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    Section 300.4 in the CEC (California) says "Where subject to physical damage, conductors, raceways, and cables shall be protected." Unfortunately, this leaves latitude for interpretation.
    Is the romex supported every 4.5 feet as required?


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
    Posts
    5,851

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    Quote Originally Posted by Jody Humbert View Post
    SO it is ok for the wiring to be in contact with any piping or HVAC ducting. I will adjust my reporting accordingly. Thanks for your input.
    Yep, it is OK..... More home inspector folklore passed down and now quashed for the moment.

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    Quote Originally Posted by William Cline View Post
    Section 300.4 in the CEC (California) says "Where subject to physical damage, conductors, raceways, and cables shall be protected."
    Basically the same as the NEC:
    CEC
    - 300.4 Protection Against Physical Damage.
    - - (A) Cables and Raceways Through Wood Members.
    - - - (1) Bored Holes,
    - - - (2) Notches in Wood.
    - - (B) Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cables and Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing Through Metal Framing Members.
    - - - (1) Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable.
    - - - (2) Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable and Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing.
    - - (C) Cables Through Spaces Behind Panels Designed to Allow Access.
    - - (D) Cables and Raceways Parallel to Framing Members and Furring Strips.
    - - (E) Cables and Raceways Installed Under Roof Decking.
    - - (F) Cables and Raceways Installed in Shallow Grooves.
    - - (G) Insulated Fittings.

    And don't forget
    - 300.5 Underground Installations.
    - - (A) Minimum Cover Requirements.
    - - (B) Wet Locations.
    - - (C) Underground Cables Under Buildings.
    - - (D) Protection from Damage
    - - - (1) Emerging from Grade.
    (and the sections go on and on)

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Hermann, Mo
    Posts
    7

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    The only person I have seen call this out is Mike Holmes on tv. I don't unless I see bare wires or not properly secured.


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Caledon, Ontario
    Posts
    4,982

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    ... but Mike is not a home inspector, he only wants everyone to believe he is one .. Mike is also famous for pointing out something which is against code, but he never ever has quoted code to give his statements legitimacy.


  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Utah
    Posts
    112

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    Quote Originally Posted by Jody Humbert View Post
    Had an electrician tell me today that local authority allows electrical wiring to touch metal piping as long as it is insulated and not spliced. I don't believe this is correct and have been calling out any contact as unsafe and recommend rerouting for safety. Any thoughts. Thanks for any comments in advance.

    You are inventing building and electrical codes to suit your uninformed perception of imagined problems. Also assuming potential rodent damage, when none exists, along with no evidence of rodents.


  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Southern Vancouver Island
    Posts
    4,607

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    It may not be a code issue, but that does not make it best practice either.

    We are used to seeing a wad of fiberglass insulation stuffed between wiring and heat ducts. That is to protect the insulation on the cables from heat and from chafing.

    John Kogel, RHI, BC HI Lic #47455
    www.allsafehome.ca

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    NoCal
    Posts
    261

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    I dont call out romex contact with piping, but knob and tube wiring is a different story for me.
    Even if there is no code requirement, this is a potential danger as deterioration of the old wiring insulation - I call it out, and my recommendation is for an electrical contractor.

    ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images ***IMPORTANT*** You Need To Register To View Images

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Alberta
    Posts
    9

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Abram View Post
    "Protection Against Physical Damage " is the key . If the contact can damage the wiring it is an issue .

    Heat damage should be considered. Flue pipes and electrical wiring are not a good combination. Also, there may be issues with steam piping.
    Canadian Electrical Code - Hot Air Ducts or Hot Water Pipes - Rule 12-506(4) requires loomex cable to be kept at least 25 mm (1 in.) away from all hot air heating ducts and hot water piping. A chunk of building insulation may be placed between the cable and the duct or pipe.

    NoAm, Book 1, page 57


  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    michigan
    Posts
    421

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    Subject to physical damage is the issue if present. Sharp edges on any object should be called out.
    One of my favorite rejections is NM cable against the edge of a purlin clip or a truss plate edge.
    I made no apologies. When the insulation is installed it usually 'tightens' the cable slack.
    Next time you poke your head up a scuttle hole, take a look.


  16. #16
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    Quote Originally Posted by bob smit View Post
    One of my favorite rejections is NM cable against the edge of a ... a truss plate edge.
    Bob,

    About 2-3 weeks ago I was inspecting an Electrical Rough at an apartment building and noticed a pile of white stuff on the floor ... strange, nothing white around here ... I looked up and saw more white stuff at the truss plate under the NM cable - nmmm ... I strained to get a better look that high up, then reached down and picked some of the white stuff up ...

    Very thin thread like scraping from the NM cable sheath, the piece I picked up unrolled to over 6 feet long and, based on the pile on the floor and the wad up at the truss plate, I estimated that at least 50-60 feet of the NM cable had been scraped over that truss plate.

    The electrician went back and replaced that entire run, and at every truss plate where I saw even a tad of white stuff he replaced those runs too.

    I doubt that electrician will do that again after rewiring about 1/4 of the apartment building for having done that all over all three stories of the building (through the roof trusses and floor trusses).

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    FL, TX
    Posts
    146

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    [QUOTE=Jerry Peck;241325
    Kind of like NM cable run through metal studs, the metal studs are bonded to ground.[/QUOTE]

    I would hope that insulator inserts are used in the steel studs where romex is run. If not gravity and building vibration will possibly cut the insulation in the romex exposing wire to the steel stud.

    At least that was the requirement when I worked commercial electrical. We usually used armored runs instead as it was a lot faster and we knew there could never be damage.


  18. #18
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    Quote Originally Posted by Dirk Jeanis View Post
    I would hope that insulator inserts are used in the steel studs where romex is run. If not gravity and building vibration will possibly cut the insulation in the romex exposing wire to the steel stud.

    At least that was the requirement when I worked commercial electrical. We usually used armored runs instead as it was a lot faster and we knew there could never be damage.
    Not only are the plastic bushings installed, they are also snapped, clipped, secured in place as designed - otherwise the bushings can (and do) fall out of place.

    Same goes for plumbing piping through metal studs.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    1,970

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    The bushings are required with metal studs when NM is used.

    All answers based on unamended National Electrical codes.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Port View Post
    The bushings are required with metal studs when NM is used.
    They are required, but their use (lack of) and poor installation is one of the things which keeps inspectors employed.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    michigan
    Posts
    421

    Default Re: Electrical wiring in contact with gas pipe, metal water pipe, and HVAC runs

    Quote Originally Posted by Dirk Jeanis View Post
    I would hope that insulator inserts are used in the steel studs where romex is run. If not gravity and building vibration will possibly cut the insulation in the romex exposing wire to the steel stud.

    At least that was the requirement when I worked commercial electrical. We usually used armored runs instead as it was a lot faster and we knew there could never be damage.
    A/C & M/C have the same requirements as NM cable reletive to Mechanical Protection.


Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •