ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues When are expansion fittings required?

I am currently doing a highschool which has an expansion joint between 2 buildings. Does this mean that every piece of conduit that passes down that hallway will require an expansion type fitting at the joint? The expansion joint falls in the middle of a corridor with a large rack of feeder conduits(2 inch to 4 inch) along with racks of smaller conduit with lighting and receptacle loads. Would the fittings be required only where conduits are physically strapped to both sides of the joint in the building? Is a rack a different demon? Wouldn't all trades be affected? Corridor already had 6 inch sprinkler main, ducts, plumbing? Thanks in advance for the replies.

The paragraphs that I find are not well known for an underground installation is compliance with 300.5(G)&(J) and 300.7 when the raceway enters the building.

300.5 Underground Installations
(G) Raceway Seals. Conduits or raceways through which moisture may contact energized live parts shall be sealed or plugged at either or both ends.

(J) Ground Movement. Where direct-buried conductors, raceways, or cables are subject to movement by settlement or frost, direct-buried conductors, raceways, or cables shall be arranged to prevent damage to the enclosed conductors or to equipment connected to the raceways.

300.7 Raceways Exposed to Different Temperatures.
(A) Sealing. Where portions of a cable raceway or sleeve are known to be subjected to different temperatures and where condensation is known to be a problem, as in cold storage areas of buildings or where passing from the interior to the exterior of a building, the raceway or sleeve shall be filled with an approved material to prevent the circulation of warm air to a colder section of the raceway or sleeve. An explosionproof seal shall not be required for this purpose.

elektrikguy,
I do not think it is a code requirement to place an expansion fitting for all raceway crossing an expansion joint in the building. I do think it is a design issue and part of most good written specifications that would come with a project.

Thanks for the response guys.The question came up at the end of the work day so I did not have time to check the specs. I thought I would pose the question here due to the interesting nature of the dilemma. When I search around the code book I am finding most refences pertaining to temperature changes. When I lived and worked up in Canada I installed pvc expansion couplings alot due to extreme temperature changes and subsequent shifting of buildings. I have never installed any above groung in a building. Will check first thing in the morning.