How Would You Call it?

Rigid conduit in a changing room out building for a pool, would you recommend a wall covering or would you accept this install the way it is?

napa 014.jpg

Tim,

If everything is bonded properly I would not have a concern actually but it would have to meet the info below. Now I dont like seeing improperly supported raceways and I bet that raceway going through the stud has no nail plate.

But if they are using this in lengths over 6’…then it better have a EGC enclosed and not using the FMC flex as the EGC, this is only acceptacle with limitations.

FYI- That is not Rigid Conduit…:slight_smile:

Duh, Hence the flex…LOL

lol…

Thanks Paul, Yes wet people grabbing the MC or AC was my concern, especially kids…

FMC which this probably is ( not AC or MC ), if the area is not considered a wet location then it would be acceptacle. If the area is subject to physical damage then it would not be acceptable…for the outer case to become an issue it would have to be a improper installation…and very possible…

Never anything wrong with making a suggestion to the clients that it be covered…hey safety is safety and it is ALWAYS possible with incorrect wiring procedures.

safety is key and if you are in the environment and feel it is a concern by all means it can make the report…again you are focused on safety and let the electrician weed out if their is a concern…think about it…it is a pool house so might have a panel in the pool house and a improper neutral to case bond…thus putting potential current on the case…just never know.

This is helped by ensuring it has it’s own EGC ran in the FMC, if it is over 6’ and chances are it is…

EDIT: Are their even connectors on those FMC raceways…my eyes are really getting crappy…I simply can’t tell…

Actually, FMC is permitted in a wet location, as long as the appropriate conductors are pulled for wet locations. [348.12(1)] I sometimes see FMC whips to condensing units. Doesn’t really apply to this situation, no doubt, but just a little extra commentary.

I suppose that if a home inspector ran across FMC in a wet location, he’d probably have to flag it for further evaluation of the suitability of the conductors contained inside it by a specialist tradesperson.

It is pretty hard for the average homeowner or handyman to find a conductor that isn’t wet rated, at least at the BORG or Ace hardware. The only conductors I see there are THHN/THWN. Even if they stripped Romex it is virtually all THHN/THWN (NM-b) or TW (NM) although it is not identified on the conductor. Do they even make THHN (not W)?
As a “code” inspector I have to question these unidentified conductors but as a real safety issue I am not as concerned.

(1) In wet locations unless the conductors are approved for
the specific conditions and the installation is such that
liquid is not likely to enter raceways or enclosures to
which the conduit is connected.

Last I looked those connectors did not LOOK like approved connectors for a wet location…lol…heck I can hardly see any connectors on them at all…to be honest with you.

But thats just a little " In General’ information…:wink:
I am red flaggin it as a Muni- Inspector when I fill in…because the freakin person did not know what a STRAP was…he already put a chip on my shoulder for a CRAPPY installation…:wink:

The “raceway” part doesn’t make any sense since most MC cable is wet rated.
I doubt this is relevent to the picture above because that looks dry.
There does seem to be a connector, the one that screws inside the armor. All that remains exposed is the hex hub. I agree on the strapping.

See…my eyes really must be going but it looks like simple old FMC to me…I am not all to concerned about it as it’s location does not really bother me. The EXTREME conservatives could say what about the wiring and the potential location IF wired incorrectly…but alas probably well beyond the rhelm of the HI in this case.

I agree Paul the OP does look like he is dealing with FMC in a dry location but we had drifted to wet locations. Sorry for the confusion.

Hey Paul, I was looking at the picture. Where are the greenfield connectors?
I can see them and have never seen a box with them inside.

Steven

No…No…Greg…you are cool fella…Yes, We did kinda drift to wet areas a bit and it’s all good fella…

Steven, I am not sure as I also simply can’t see the connectors that well but thats the curse of not doing much COMMERCIAL work these days as maybe they have a interior fitting for FMC now…I don’t know my eyes are so bad it looks like to me they just ran the freakin raceway right into the box on the middle one…does look like a nipple on the top one…

However, It is already in place and appears to not have any damage to it and so on I would probably not write it up if me…

If these are the connectors I am thinking of they thread inside the armor(similar to the LFMC connector), the only part you see is the hex hub against the box. Inside the box you have the regular pipe thread with a lock nut.
We used a lot of greenfield under computer room floors and they tried all sorts of connectors, trying to find one that would hold a Russell Stoll receptacle on the end of a greenfield whip.

But are those twist in’s that I am also familiar with on LFMC made for standard FMC raceways. All the ones I have delt with are like a standard AC or MC Cable connector for the most part.

We would have to see the listing to be sure but I was told they were when I saw them under a floor. The guys also used a clamp on the outside in the computer rooms but that was a tough application.

http://www.bptfittings.com/images/products/540-SS.jpg

I guess with THESE being allowed now ANYTHINGS possible so that connector in the image probably is fine…it was the improper supporting that raises the flags…if they do one thing CRAPPY…what ELSE is probably done CRAPPY…is always my feeling.

Ahhhl…they do make screw in models…

http://www.regalfittings.com/aspcms/upload/images/GF38Sp.jpg

Screw-in “Jake” type connector for use with 1/2” flexible metal conduit. Screw connector into conduit. External spring steel locking tabs secures fitting to electrical box. Simply push connector into ½” knockout. Suitable for maintaining grounding continuity when installed in accordance with the NEC. Non-Insulated.

Yup that’s the one except they have taken it one more step and put the snap in clip instead of threads and a lock ring.
The computer room guys would use that and the soft metal clamp, broken off of the other style connector on the outside of the greenfield to lock it in.
I never really read the language that said it was legal but they put 60 and 100a R/S receptacles on 4’ whips under the floor. Some places even ran loose greenfield all the way back to the panel. It did make it easy when you recongigured the room. Just drag the power to where you needed it … but about half the time the R/S would pull loose by the time you got it there and you had bare 2ga or 4ga THHN rubbing against the end of the greenfield and the R/S was swinging in the breeze.