Questions tagged [code-compliance]
For questions relating to compliance with laws and ordinances of federal, state/province and local jurisdictions. Questions should also be tagged with the specific area of construction involved.
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Is my contractor right that our nonreturnable hardwired heated towel rack can't be installed in our bathroom?
We're working with a design-build firm, doing a gut reno on our primary bath. We purchased a Watermark TWRD3-24 electric towel rack (it's a set of 3 individual heated bars, specs and instructions here)...
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What is the smallest Awg stranded wire that can be used in a house on 20amp breaker?
Smallest stranded wire that can be used with 20 Amp breakers
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Federal Pacific panel replacement
Just inherited a 1956 built home in SC with a 100A FP sub-panel. There are MANY other major and minor code-related and safety issues such as grounded outlets with no ground wires. My question is ...
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Massachusetts Gas Dryer flex supply line
I have a licensed plumber appt set next week to replace my gas dryer flex supply line with a longer line. Presently it has a 48" flex line but it restricts access needed by a drain company to ...
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Can I feed a shared garage from 2 meters for EV charging?
Suppose I have a duplex, building A, which has 2 electric services. It also has a detached garage structure, building B. Each tenant has half the garage. Weirdly, garage lights are powered from the ...
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How do I automatically run a fan whenever my freestanding gas fireplace is running?
Under the 2020 NEC, I'm looking to add an extra fan to a freestanding gas fireplace beyond the built in blower. The extra fan is an ordinary wall fan with a 15A/120V plug.
The existing blower uses a ...
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Why are the box fill on Carlon boxes inconsistent/wrong?
This is a side question to Box fill calculations for a light switch in a Carlon old work box because I realized what is written on the Carlon old work boxes is possibly wrong or at least inconsistent.
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Box fill calculations for a light switch in a Carlon old work box
I thought I got the box fill calculations right but there must be an issue, still. Because, assuming my calculations are correct, no single box on the market would be large enough for a simple light ...
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Running 14/2 Romex vertically up a concrete wall
I'm in western NY.
I have an outlet in my unfinished basement that I need to connect to the electric panel. I have the 14/2 cable wired into the outlet and I just need to run it up the concrete wall, ...
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Massachusetts Condominium Code Requirement?
I own a condominium in Massachusetts and recently had water damage inside a wall that is shared with the adjoining unit. The drywall has been removed but surprise,no insulation was present. That ...
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Does a flat 2x4 window header in a bearing wall need to be reworked?
For a small brick ranch, two windows (24” and 28”) were added to a load bearing wall. 2x4 header was used over jack studs. However, the header is laying flat rather than on edge. I know having the 2x4 ...
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Electrical Code Compliance Question
UPDATE:
First. Thank you guys for your responses. My apologies for the picture issue. I couldn't figure out how to put them in the post originally so I created the link. These should be better.
...
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Can I use a 45 degree angle when dropping conduit into the ground?
I am running electricity and internet over to a shed in my backyard.
When my conduit drops from my wall, it seems like it would be a much easier pull if it transitioned at a 45 degree angle into the ...
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Weather Head Re-attachment
Live in Sandy Springs, GA. Just bought an older home and electrical is not up to current code. I had a big branch fall on overhead service line and pull weather head out from attic. Power is still on ...
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How do I find the (2018) IBC spacing requirement for floor ledger bolts?
I simply want to know how many bolts I need to put in per foot, and how they're spaced. The ledgers for each house floor are 2x8s with joists every 1'.
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Can I connect black iron pipe directly to a gas cooktop?
I am moving into a new home. The kitchen has a separate gas cooktop and gas wall oven. Both were supplied by a half inch black iron pipe terminating at a valve in the bottom of one cabinet. From there,...
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Modifying ceiling fan switch for independent fan/light control -- Is it acceptable to run 14/3 alongside existing 14/2?
I'm looking at modifying an existing fan installation setup that is wired in the typical 1980s builder-grade way: The power enters and leaves at the ceiling box, and there is a 14/2 switch loop with ...
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If i have 2 ground rods at main disconnect can i hit the rebar from the subpanel
I have a 4 pack meter base outside with 3 100 amp disconnects one not being used from there I put 2 ground rods .
I have a subpanel in the building since I have 2 ground rods how I understand it is I ...
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How can circuits be prioritized depending on real time demand?
I have a 125a service that’s part of a multifamily setup. I have been told by a licensed electrician contractor that upgrading my service to 200a would likely require $10k+ due to also needing to ...
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Can I run Armorlite 12/2 wire through one side of a wall to the other side?
I have a shared wall from my garage and living room. My breaker panel is located in my garage and is on the shared wall with my garage and living room. I am wanting to add a dedicated 20amp outlet to ...
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Should I oversize conduit and grounding wire size?
I'm getting ready to place my materials order and have a few last details/checks I could use help with. This is for installing a subpanel in a detached pump house. I'm putting a 60 amp two-pole ...
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Do I need to use 60 degree C ampacity rating for feeders to 60 amp subpanel?
I calculated my wire size for feeders to a 60 amp subpanel, for a pump house, based on 75C column of ampacity chart. Terminals out of main and into subpanel are both rated 75C. But then I saw ...
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What are the code requirements for outdoor plumbing and electrical surface-level conduits?
I'm planning to re-design my yard, and I'm looking to decouple the dependencies between contractors.
I am planning to add some outdoor appliances (e.g. hot tub, sauna) which would require adding new ...
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Is a switched neutral light fixture up to code in canada?
In Canada, is it legal to have a single pole switch turn off a light by switching the neutral wire only?
I'm pretty sure it's not to code, but my brother in law is adamant his way is okay. I'd like to ...
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Schedule 40 or schedule 80 PVC where feeder wire comes out of ground?
Our well pump installer is still using schedule 40 for running pump wires up to exposed well head. I checked with a contractor and they still use schedule 40 outside buildings, but EMT inside. I'm ...
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Does US building code allow a toilet or sink to be placed in the clear floor space on the side of a tub?
I'm trying to understand the building codes used in the US and specifically NJ for the clear space in front of a shower or bathtub. This is for a residential single family home.
I remember reading ...
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50 Amp plug but 30 amp breaker
I have a plasma cutter which can have 35 amps of 220 draw. The factory plug is NEMA rated for 50 amps, 220V single phase. My circuit is rated for 30 amps. I never intend to go above 30 amps when ...
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Remodeling, do I need to add fire blocking
I am in the process of remodeling a bathroom built in 1961. One thing I noticed is that non of the walls I have opened up have any fire blocking in them. I am only going to have an electrical and ...
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I need help on an issue with the roof of my porch I'm designing [closed]
The porch is has to have a chamfer due to space limitations from a dry creek very close to it. I'd like to do an A-frame but may need to do a shed roof if needed. The roof would have to hang off into ...
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Can I run electrical wires along this metal support beam?
I have a metal I-beam in my basement that supports my floor joists.
I am running new electric, and I want to use it as a sort of running board - I know I can't string certain gauges perpendicular to ...
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Is old subpanel wiring configuration to code?
I opened an old subpanel and this is how it is wired. The fuses are all 30 amp, tube-style fuses.
What is the purpose of connecting the two left-most lugs?
Is that intended to increase amps?
Is this ...
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Sizing charts for air conditioner or heat pump for humidity rather than cooling? 1-stage vs. 2-stage? 3-stage? [closed]
Inevitably I'll have to replace my heat pump, and when that time comes I'd like to have the calculations on the size of the replacement to account for dehumidifying in addition to heating and cooling. ...
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How to tell if light power cord is Low Voltage
I know per code you can't run high voltage power cords behind a wall, but my understanding per this thread Why can't I (or: shouldn't I) run a power cord through a wall? is below 55 watts I am ...
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Wiring thru the wall A/C
I need to wire a 20 amp, 240 volt, single yoke, double pole breaker for a thru the wall A/C. Also reknown as "115/240". Using 12g wire running 40 feet. I've seen this done using 12/2 and ...
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Is it legal to feed four subpanels in sequence from one breaker? [closed]
I found one 100 amp 1ph breaker that feeds four subpanels down line. Is this legal? There is only one set of three #3 wires that is 200' to the first lugs that breakoff to the first panel, then 30' to ...
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Can a stringer be cut and joined to fit a narrow stairwell?
I have a narrow unfinished basement stair with open risers. My wife would like to see the stairs "looking not like basement stairs". To do that, I'd add risers, and replace the treads with ...
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Backyard Greenhouse Studio Sink Drainage Question
I live in San Francisco and have a permit to build a greenhouse ceramics studio in my backyard. I am a potter. I am currently renovating my 1915 house and adding the studio as part of the plan.
I want ...
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Does a house battery need over-current protection on both Positive and Negative cables?
I'm reading the US NEC 2020 article 706 and trying to understand the required over-current protection needed between the battery and the inverter.
My understanding is that a disconnect is required ...
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Can I replace a 2 prong receptacle with a 3 pronged if I install a GFCI breaker?
I know I can install a GFCI outlet in the home run section of a circuit and install 3 pronged receptacles in anything downstream, even if they are ungrounded.
What if instead of installing the GFCI ...
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Can I bring a Romex cable from one side of a ceiling joist to the other (in an unfinished basement)?
I have not found any information and answer on this. My question is, can I bring a Romex cable from one side of a ceiling joist to the other over the joist face? All I can find is related to something ...
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Can I put a metal junction box on the side of a joist and run a cable across the face to the other side?
I would like to install a junction box with two incoming circuits via FMC, one outgoing FMC (clothes dryer) and one outgoing as NM-B (washer).
The junction box should go onto the ceiling of an ...
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Add UV water purifier to dishwasher/disposal circuit using switch/outlet combo?
So, I've got a dishwasher and a switched garbage disposal on the same 20a circuit. I am looking to add a DC plugged UV water filter by swapping out the current handy box switch with a GFCI switch/...
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Running conduit outside at ground level or just above it, what's allowed?
I am providing lighting and power for a pergola. A PVC conduit comes out of the ground about 18" from one of the posts, so I need to bridge that small gap.
NEC table 300.5 covers burial depth, ...
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How can I wire a circuit for this table saw and stay code compliant?
I'm getting ready to install a new, dedicated 240 V circuit for a 4 hp table saw that I just bought1. The saw hasn't actually arrived yet, so I'm working off information in the user manual I found on ...
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Water Heater Drain Pan Discharge Pipe Code Issue
There is no way to pipe the drain pan to a suitable waste drain, so it must be run to the outside of the building. The issue is that my water heater is not greater than 6 inches above the adjacent ...
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Is conduit required for a new exterior outlet?
(In Pittsburgh, PA).
I am installing a new exterior outlet on a brick wall (surface mount). I've drilled through the brick veneer and CMU, but now I am wondering - is conduit required here? All the ...
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What Should I Accept for Termite Control for a New Construction Home?
I am building a new home with a rigid steel structure + steel roof/siding, and traditional 2x4 wood framing on inside, a.k.a. a "barndominium". Regarding termite prevention, applicable (?!) ...
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No Code Approved way to Pipe Water Heater Drain Pan?
I'm confused about how to pipe the water heater drain pan. According to the 2018 IPC, which I fall under, PVC is not an approved material, but I can't find a drain pan with anything other than a 1&...
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Exactly what does this note mean in my main panel what is a 4 wire feeder system and why is my whole system designed as one and what's the purpose?
The note in my panel reads:
The electrical system of this home has been designed for a four wire feeder system. The grounding system is isolated from the neutral system. Be sure to connect a separate ...
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Acceptable Method for Bonding Metal Pool Fence
I'm in Dutchess County, New York and we are installing an aluminum pool fence similar to one shown in the picture below. The fence is within 5 ft of the pool edge along three sides and further than 10 ...
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