ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Non-grounding receptical replacement

I know what the code says but I have never really been sure what it means. I have never been around an ungrounded building. I think it was the GI bill housing requirements or something but every house I saw in the DC area used <small EGC> grounded Romex, even before they had 3 prong receptacles (post war). Houses older than that were wired in BX. I have never seen K&T either.
The old buildings I saw as Fla state inspector were wired in pipe or some kind of armored cable. I thought I might see some K&T at the 1926 Ringling mansion in Sarasota but it was EMT or rigid everywhere. No galvanizing though, all black painted. There was some "new" work in BX/AC but nothing NM. All of the renovations used EMT or MC.

Greg- You've led a sheltered life ( NM cable wise), come to Michigan and I'll show you all the NM cable you can stand that doesn't have am EGC run with it.

I was always told that a post war house needed a grounded wiring method to pass GI Bill inspection. That may not have trickled down to the hinterlands but it was true in DC. I know as late as 1971, you couldn't get a GI loan on an "aluminum" house.

All right Greg- What's the "Hinterlands"?

[This message has been edited by George Little (edited 05-23-2006).]

Outside the Beltway


[This message has been edited by gfretwell (edited 05-23-2006).]

Okay Greg- But we do have indoor plumbing. (I owe you one Greg)

George, I am unable to find that particular code section in the MRC. Could you give me that number?

The code reference is in the 2003 MRC (Michigan Recidential Code) is on page 557. This puts in the Appendix J on Existing Buildings. I don't want anyone giving me a ration of s**t about the Appendix not being part of the code either. There is nothing in the MRC or the IRC (International Residential Code) that allows the use of GFCI protection in lieu of grounding. To my knowledge the appendix is allowable for code compliance in the State of Michigan. Of course I've been wrong before