ECN Forum Forums Photo Discussion Forums Violation Photo Forum Unprotected Romex

A common cause of debate is whether you can run "Romex" in pipe. The NEC, however, specifies that the material be protected from damage, and can even require a pipe sleeve where passing through a floor.

"The Electric Kid" has sent in these two pics from his home; it seems that whoever ran the wire did not consider whether the (relatively thin) panels might be a cause for abrasion to the cables.

Looks as if the cables are just passing through a piece of OSB, a laminated beam or plywood. Regardless of the material, what would be the harm?

Also, from my view, those appear to be two 8/3 or 6/3 SEU cables, but that could be due to my monitor or the dust on the screen or the fact that it's Friday afternoon if you know what I mean.

Pic 1 is bad. Pic 2 looks like old RX. or UF.

Depends on the material it is passing thru and the physical demands on the ends of the cable.

even if there were a sleave on it.. most likely the installer would not have used correct fittings and the sleave would be the physical hazard.

It's all new NM cable (the same cables in both photos), not even a year old yet. All the wood is plywood.

It's just stapled to the plywood floor in this storage space. No running board, nothing. And there's a space to fish cables under the boards too, in the form of 2X4s going perpendicular to the joists.

Ian A.

So that pic is thru the floor then along it?
Behind a "knee" wall or just open? can the area be used for storage or "dead" space?

The holes are in the side "walls" of the storage space. It's behind a knee wall in a soffit/attic, and it is used for storage. In pic one, the cables go into a dead space, then somehow maneuvers into the garage. In pic two, they go into another storage space, which I don't have pics of yet.

Ian A.

So thats not good. Not in any probable storage area.

Here's the cables above where they cross in front of the attic "door."


(This pic is on the member-upload-site)

Ian A.