ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Huh?

Single story commercial building.
Undergoing some renovation. Not by us, but by the construction company EC.

Anyway:

Exsisting romex from who knows how long ago, at least 15 yrs?

So why does the electrical inspector come in one day and say, "all this romex has to go".

He wants it all tore out and replaced with mc.

How does this happen?


Dnk......

They may have local ammendment to code restricting use of NM in commercial. My area does... MC and pipe only!

If it were to existing code at the time of install, he should not be asking for it to be removed.

DNK:
What is the occupancy of the new tenant??
Medical??
Is the new 'use' using a plenum ceiling?

If it was 'to code' when installed, then it should be able to stay.

John

Another question need to be answered:


What percentage of the property is under going the renovation?
Some jurisdictions require full compliance with active code after 50% renovation.

To answer some of your replies:

1. maybe 10% of the building being retrofitted.
2. No medical use at all, renovating being done to make old cubicle area into offices for new engineering staff. New walls, dividers and such.
3. Same ole tennant, been in the building for as long as I can remmember.
4. All new ac unit trunks being pu in, same ac units though, no plenum cieling that I know about.


I have no clue how he can justify this, like I said this was an electrical inspector, not a building inspector or fire marshall.

Dnk.....

And the answer is:

Exsisting romex above a drop must come out. All of it.

Romex in walls can stay, then go to j-box and then mc above the drop cieling.

Anyone have a code reference for this?


Dnk.......

FYI

Talked to inspector, because only 10% is being renovated now, permit that was pulled calls for over 50% of the building to be renovated. Work is being done in phases, rather than all at once, therefore romex must come out.

Dnk........

Question where is this one story commerical building? Is it in a fire zone? It could be a local code requirement. And possibly the original wiring in non-metallic sheath cable was not inspected or had a permit so the EC now has to straighten this problem out.

Code reference is NEC 2002 334.12(A)(1)