ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues a brain drain...

230-53
"raceways enclosing service entrance conductors shall be raintight and arranged to drain"

drain what, if it's raintight?

does anyone know of a listed drain for this?

The local interpretation on this has always been that you cannot arrange the raceway so that it becomes a plumbing trap.

This is just good general practice for all raceways exposed to weather.....not just the service entrance.

I'm sure we have all pulled apart conduit that is full of water in spite of the fact that it is properly installed, (according to the NEC). I know I have many, many, times

Sparky,
Golfjunkie is right. Art 230-53 is a binary sentence. Raintight and arrange to drain.

Thats when we call in a plumber to help us.

Wayne

Along the same lines-Isn't the interior of a raceway which is installed in a wet location considered a wet location? If so the commonly observed practice of installing NM cable in an out door raceway for various reasons( AC whip, to get from an attic to a basement, etc.) is a violation, correct?

If you look at a 3R enclosure you will find drain holes in the bottom. As far as drains go, there are a number of them available for classified areas and a few for non-classified areas. Stahl makes a plastic drain for threaded conduit systems, but I have not been able to find it at the supply houses. It comes with the power connect kits for some brands of heat trace.
This doesn't meet code, but I have used conduit plugs with small holes drilled in them for drains and also have cut a small notch in the bottom part of a LB gasket to make a drain. Our conduit couplings are straight thread and not watertight. Any time you have a coupling in threaded conduit on a vertical run in a wet location, water will enter the raceway.
don(resqcapt19)

thanks guys,
it just reads odd, i think i was caught in a one sentence code loop there...

( like the stooges Curley when he plants one foot and goes in a circle...)

[This message has been edited by sparky (edited 05-09-2001).]