Underlined text indicates a change in the rules for the 2017 NEC.
Q. What is the Code requirement for supporting conductors in vertical raceways?
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A. If the vertical rise of a raceway exceeds the values shown in Table 300.19(A), each conductor must be supported at the top, or as close to the top as practical. Intermediate support must also be provided in increments that don’t exceed the values in the table.
Caution: The weight of long vertical runs of conductors can cause the conductors to actually drop out of the raceway if they aren’t properly secured. There’ve been many cases where conductors in a vertical raceway were released from the pulling “basket” or “grip” (at the top) without being secured, and the conductors fell down and out of the raceway, injuring those at the bottom of the installation.
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About the Author
Mike Holt
Mike Holt is the owner of Mike Holt Enterprises (www.MikeHolt.com), one of the largest electrical publishers in the United States. He earned a master's degree in the Business Administration Program (MBA) from the University of Miami. He earned his reputation as a National Electrical Code (NEC) expert by working his way up through the electrical trade. Formally a construction editor for two different trade publications, Mike started his career as an apprentice electrician and eventually became a master electrician, an electrical inspector, a contractor, and an educator. Mike has taught more than 1,000 classes on 30 different electrical-related subjects — ranging from alarm installations to exam preparation and voltage drop calculations. He continues to produce seminars, videos, books, and online training for the trade as well as contribute monthly Code content to EC&M magazine.