Electrical Wiring Stapling...

[maitai11]

Guys, I hope I'm not dredging up anything with this one...it is a genuine question.

Stapling of wires on garbage disposals and hot water heaters. I think I'm seeing double vision here...I know it's required to be secured, but NOBODY DOES IT...Should I keep noting it? Or is it being nit-picky?

Also, What is the maximum length of wire that one can go without stapling?

Thank you in advance gentlemen...

Maitai

[Greg Fretwell]

You can do short whips with flexible raceways or type AC but there is really no legal way to do it with Romex.
I also understand it is done every day.
I would write it up but if it really didn't look like it was being damaged I might not hit it too hard.

[Greg Fretwell]

Max on Romex is 12" from the box and 4' along a run

[Speedy Petey]

Not to nit pick, but it is 4½ feet.

[Blaine Wiley]

What about in the attic where it is never, ever secured?

[smcarthur]

4 1/2' in the attic too.

[Greg Fretwell]

The less accessible the attic area the less you worry about strapping and damage. In these 3:12 attics we have here I wouldn't worry about anything 6' from the hole unless the air handler was up there. (Bad idea in itself)