rwashington
(Richard Washington, TREC#7238)
June 7, 2010, 5:58pm
1
besides the exposed wiring is the sched. 40 pipe not permitted for exterior gfci’s conduit? this was quite a doozy of a place.
the second pic is the garage sub pan with tape across it saying “live current”. if it wasn’t so unsafe it would be laughable.
rmeier2
(Robert Meier)
June 7, 2010, 8:02pm
2
Schedule 40 electrical conduit is permitted where not subject to physical damage. Subject to physical damage condition would require SCH 80 PVC.
352.10 Uses Permitted.
The use of PVC conduit shall be permitted in accordance with 352.10(A) through (H).
FPN: Extreme cold may cause some nonmetallic conduits to become brittle and, therefore, more susceptible to damage from physical contact.
(A) Concealed. PVC conduit shall be permitted in walls, floors, and ceilings.
(B) Corrosive Influences. PVC conduit shall be permitted in locations subject to severe corrosive influences as covered in 300.6 and where subject to chemicals for which the materials are specifically approved.
(C) Cinders. PVC conduit shall be permitted in cinder fill.
**(D) Wet Locations. **PVC conduit shall be permitted in portions of dairies, laundries, canneries, or other wet locations, and in locations where walls are frequently washed, the entire conduit system, including boxes and fittings used therewith, shall be installed and equipped so as to prevent water from entering the conduit. All supports, bolts, straps, screws, and so forth, shall be of corrosion-resistant materials or be protected against corrosion by approved corrosion-resistant materials.
(E) Dry and Damp Locations. PVC conduit shall be permitted for use in dry and damp locations not prohibited by 352.12.
(F) Exposed. PVC conduit shall be permitted for exposed work. PVC conduit used exposed in areas of physical damage shall be identified for the use.
FPN: PVC Conduit, Type Schedule 80, is identified for areas of physical damage.
(G) Underground Installations. For underground installations, homogenous and nonhomogenous PVC shall be permitted for direct burial and underground encased in concrete. See 300.5 and 300.50.
(H) Support of Conduit Bodies. PVC conduit shall be permitted to support nonmetallic conduit bodies not larger than the largest trade size of an entering raceway. These conduit bodies shall not support luminaires or other equipment and shall not contain devices other than splicing devices as permitted by 110.14(B) and 314.16(C)(2).
352.12 Uses Not Permitted.
rmangold
(Richard Mangold, Lic# 450.003803)
June 7, 2010, 11:19pm
3
Doesn’t schedule 40 deteriorate in direct sun?
rmeier2
(Robert Meier)
June 8, 2010, 1:21am
4
Listed PVC Sch40 is sunlight resistant and is surface marked as part of it’s listing.
III. Construction Specifications
352.100 Construction.
PVC conduit shall be made of rigid (nonplasticized) polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC conduit and fittings shall be composed of suitable nonmetallic material that is resistant to moisture and chemical atmospheres. For use aboveground, it shall also be flame retardant, resistant to impact and crushing, resistant to distortion from heat under conditions likely to be encountered in service, and resistant to low temperature and sunlight effects . For use underground, the material shall be acceptably resistant to moisture and corrosive agents and shall be of sufficient strength to withstand abuse, such as by impact and crushing, in handling and during installation. Where intended for direct burial, without encasement in concrete, the material shall also be capable of withstanding continued loading that is likely to be encountered after installation.
352.120 Marking.
Each length of PVC conduit shall be clearly and durably marked at least every 3 m (10 ft) as required in the first sentence of 110.21. The type of material shall also be included in the marking unless it is visually identifiable. For conduit recognized for use aboveground, these markings shall be permanent. For conduit limited to underground use only, these markings shall be sufficiently durable to remain legible until the material is installed. Conduit shall be permitted to be surface marked to indicate special characteristics of the material.
FPN: Examples of these markings include but are not limited to “limited smoke” and “sunlight resistant.
rwashington
(Richard Washington, TREC#7238)
June 8, 2010, 11:47am
5
Thanks. That helps alot. I should have looked further in the IRC.
lfoster
(Linda J. Foster, TREC # 7654)
June 8, 2010, 1:38pm
6
Site for pvc products. Recommends painting with latex paint.
http://www.ppfahome.org/pvc/index.html
gkeene
(Greg Keene, CMI)
June 8, 2010, 10:47pm
7
IRC table E3701.4 indicates that RNC neds to be Sched 80 if exposed to sunlight and physical damage.
rmeier2
(Robert Meier)
June 8, 2010, 11:11pm
8
That would coincide with Article 352 of the NEC. No exposure to physical damage, then Sch40 is fine even in direct sunlight.
pabernathy
(Paul Abernathy, CMI®, CMECP® Electrical Code Academy,Inc.)
June 13, 2010, 1:34pm
9
Remember…just because PVC is exposed…does not always mean it is subject to physical damage. If the determination is made that it is subject (which anyone could make a case that anything is subject) the recommendations are made in the form of a FPN to use Sch 80.
Again…as with anything we are subject to location determination.
I’m surprised that no one has noticed that this appears to be PVC plumbing pipe.