Person electrocuted by energized metal in a building

[Bruce M. Graham]

Brian,
Don't forget to subtract the 1/2 for drywall, which means the wire was 5/8 or closer to the backside of the wall.

[Erby Crofutt]

Good link, George.

But did you notice that this post was over two and half years old when you resurrected it????

[Mark Thorman]

If this had happened on a AFCI or GFCI protested circuit would it have trip the breaker?

[Greg Fretwell]

A GFCI should have tripped before the person was seriously harmed.

BTW they make longer drywall screws. 1.25' is no guarantee that someone won't hit a wire.

The Fla building code now requires that steel framing is bonded ... because of this accident. NFPA has not seen that need yet. It is as easy as using a bonded steel box in each isolated section of framing firmly attached to the steel stud. It should be a recomended wiring practice for all sparkies, code or not. The material cost is nominal and the added labor is zero.
I understand there are even plastic boxes now with metal mounting flanges and a bonding screw.

[jtedesco1]

Originally Posted by Greg Fretwell

A GFCI should have tripped before the person was seriously harmed.

BTW they make longer drywall screws. 1.25' is no guarantee that someone won't hit a wire.

The Fla building code now requires that steel framing is bonded ... because of this accident. NFPA has not seen that need yet. It is as easy as using a bonded steel box in each isolated section of framing firmly attached to the steel stud. It should be a recomended wiring practice for all sparkies, code or not. The material cost is nominal and the added labor is zero.
I understand there are even plastic boxes now with metal mounting flanges and a bonding screw.

Looks like this was the proposed change:

Section E3303

Bonding Metal Framing Members:

Metal framing members. Metal framing members shall be bonded to the equipment grounding conductor for the circuit that may energize the framing and be sized in accordance with the National Electric Code Table 250.122. For the purpose of this section, a grounded metal outlet box attached to the framing shall be permitted.

Rationale:

This year an appliance installer died from electrocution due to an energized metal framing member that came in contact with the metal duct that was connected to the appliance. Bonding of the metal framing members is necessary to counteract this possibility.

[Mark Thorman]

If the damaged wire was on an AFCI protected circuit would it have tripped the breaker?

[Greg Fretwell]

Probably not until the fault current went over 30ma. Still survivable in most cases but getting up in that "freezing" range. He may have been stuck until the breaker tripped. In the case of this accident when the guy was back behind an appliance it may be academic.