This topic might sound a little crazy but… I remember reading or hearing somewhere that any sort of fall protection harness should not be written on (i.e. one’s name or company), because of the reaction between the ink and harness material. This reaction would cause the harness to lose strength and not protect as well during a fall.
Are there any prohibtions about writing on romex wires?
Thanks for the info!
Replies
Don't write "The inspector is a jerk!"
why not?
The prohibition about writing on safety webbing grew from an industry-wide ignorance about the interreaction between the esters in felt-tip marker inks and the synthetic material the webbing was made from.
It is still an urban legend, and a lot of people in the rescue industry still religiously refuse to write on any rope or webbing.
The actual danger is minimal in professional rescue work, because a piece of gear must be retired from service after anywhere from 3 to 5 years, even if it has never been used. The safety factor in life-saving gear is so high that even gear which has been stored completely protected from UV rays--which do degrade natural-colour nylon and dacron--is considered unsafe only a few years after manufacture.
The true culprit is acetone. Most felt-tip markers use alcohol-based inks, which won't do much to degrade nylon or dacron. But acetone will--and in short order, too, like right before your eyes, LOL....
As for the Romex sheath, I can give you empirical, anecdotal evidence which states that after 10+ years, there is no visible or tactile degradation of the plastic sheath anywhere near where standard alcohol-based 'Sharpies' have been used to write on it.
Take that for what its worth....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
Edited 6/18/2005 12:08 pm ET by Dinosaur
Never had, or even heard of, an issue with markers, of any description, damaging the sheath on NM.
When I wired my parents' house in 1971, I wrote all kinds of info on the romex, ckt numbers, switch leg, etc. Absolutely no problem to date. I used a sharpie.
-- J.S.
You serious? If you are you need to find something else to do.
Shout out to Andy C. Namaste my friend.
http://www.hay98.com/
No prohibitions,
but, if you are planning on using Romex to make ####safety harness? then you should write something on it for the EMTs when they come to pick you up, something like blood type or next of kin,
.... allergic reactions........?
ROTFL
maddog
If you are using romex for fall protection, I recommend spending a little more money and using AWG 10-3, make sure it has no kinks and if a strand is broken, replace the entire wire; don't splice it with wire nuts.
I have my buchanan crimper ....I could use the #2 sleeves W/O penetrox of course
Since you're a sparky, any ideas for a shock absorber.....(that's the most important part of fall protection, of course)....that would couple to the romex?
Like maybe one of those "self-reeling" extension cord thingys from HD?
I've lost two guys so far with broken backs do to the sudden above-ground stops.
:-)
Edited 6/18/2005 12:17 pm ET by Wormdrive
yeah , http://www.hubbellcatalog.com/wiring/section-r-datasheet.asp?PN=HBL501032W&FAM=Reels&P=14840,14870
Perfect!
But....what does it cost? Is it less than $23K in hospital bills?
And if it arrests one fall, do I have to replace it?
And will it survive being marked up with a sharpy?
Edited 6/18/2005 12:31 pm ET by Wormdrive
Give me $21k and I will make five harnesses for you , I would practice with one harness until it breaks, record the pertinent info, and then discard the others when they have only one fall left , according to your now archived info!P.S. be sure to drag them around everywhere you go, use them to lift some heavy things, maybe a transformer, with a boom lift, and then throw them into the bottom of the gang box next to the oiler and threader for the next guy. maddog
Well, I can see you've been around some building sites! (Not one of mine).
Truthfully, I'm a glutton for punishment. My painter is the daughter of the local OSHA inspector (A real hardass).
He's visited twice, mostly to BS with her, but while there, he checked us out. The only one who got "scolded" was his daughter for not having her scaffolding tied off.
But she's about done, so I'll drag out the romes and my new reels and springs! :-)
N P, laffin' is better than cryin' maddog
I forgot......some of these , they are only rated 80# http://www.hubbellcatalog.com/wiring/section-t-datasheet.asp?PN=20302002&FAM=KWM&P=15893,4597
Cool! I have a Vietnamese friend who might be OK with that!
just keep him away from the dog