Is this a version of knob and tube?
The wires are insulated.
Yep. That would be an “open-conductor support.”
Jeff,
How much of an issue is the insulation packed around it?
I would think it would contribute to conductor overheating.
It’s not allowed. I would say that it’s a “substantial” issue which should be corrected.
**394.12 Uses Not Permitted. **Concealed knob-and-tube wiring shall not be used in the following:
(5) Hollow spaces of walls, ceilings, and attics where such spaces are insulated by loose, rolled, or foamed-inplace insulating material that envelops the conductors
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