I have a question concerning the use of Romex in exposed work in an accessible attic. Is it OK?? I’ve read the code more times than I care to admit but I’m still not sure about this though I think it is okay. I’ve attached some pictures of what I’m talking about. Thanks in advance for your response.
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oh no there is that S word, i hope they take it easy on you.i'm not one of them S guys, but the wire in my attic is exposed and no problem on inspection,i do have some that run over the top of a rafter by the acess and had the protect them with a runway for them to lay in. larry
hand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
I'm not a S either. Looks to me like you could easily store stuff up there--there's enough headroom and width--so I'd at least nail 1x4 onto the studs, just above the wire. This will protect the wire should something piled high fall onto it.
SPARKIES!
hahahahahahaha
blue
ps don't call me a woodbutcher....I'm higher than that...I'm a hack.
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. There are some in here who think I'm a hackmeister...they might be right! Of course, they might be wrong too!
You need to protect those wires. The cut off is 3 feet IIRC.
Ain't no S.
The open junction box should have a cover on it.
Can't tell for sure, but it looks like this attic could be quite useful as living space. I'd be pretty unhappy with this installation if I ever wanted to use it that way. Just takes too long to drill some holes? Or did the electrician lose his drill?
In my area the operative word is "accessible."
A permanent set of stairs is considered to make it accessible; a hatch - not - drop down, depends on what kind of day the inspector is having.
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Hijack! I'm not familiar with those metal stud connectors that show in the first pic. They seem to connect every other stud to the bottom plate. Is that a regional thing? Maybe California? And what are trhey called?
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
romex got to be on the inside of studs
The space is accessible through 36" walk-thru doors but it is truely attic space and not suitable for living due to headroom issues. Of course this attic space will remain completely unfinished. I am the "electrician" as it were and yes, I do own a drill ! I can't remember exactly what my thinking was when I started tacking the wires on the backside of these studs because in other similar areas I went the more conventional route through the studs. For the life of me I can't really see where that would offer any more protection on the attic side where the walls are open. I guess I will have to let the inspector be my guide...
You can protect the cable with running boards. Unstaple the cable and install 1x4 on the studs behind it, then reattach. Code says anything #8 or smaller has to be "protected." Running boards would be a lot less work than drilling and re-running everything. Depending on your jurisdiction, you might even pass <g>.
"Code says anything #8 or smaller has to be "protected.""The code says nothing like that. All wiring has to be protected and the code goes into a number of differnt places about what what needs to be protected and how.The #8 wire or smaller (actually NM with 2 #8 wires or smaller - 3) is for cables running across joist in unfinished basements. Certainly not applicable here.There are many sections that discuss specfic requirement for different applications, but none of them really cover this.The close is for Exposed Work - "protection from Physical Damage - The cable shall be portected from physical damage WHERE NECESSARY by ..." then goes on a list a number of options.But it is realy up the an inspector to determine the WHEERE NECESSARY is case like this.
You're right, Bill. Please ignore my previous post!
Ed,
That is a Simpson Strong-Tie #SP1 you can see them here:
http://www.strongtie.com/products/highwind/Stud-Sillplate.html
http://www.strongtie.com/products/highwind/TopPlates-Stud.html
This construction is in Kentucky.