Hint: A surprise on the ceiling.
I spotted this wiring on the ceiling of a clothing store where my wife and I were shopping. There is an MC cable clipped to the ceiling with a white-colored Class 2 cable secured to the MC cable.
Section 300.11(D) seems pretty straightforward with the wording “cable wiring methods shall not be used as a means of support for other cables, raceways, or nonelectrical equipment.” Apparently, the installer of this wiring did not remember Sec. 300.11(D) or simply chose to ignore it. Or perhaps the installer thought Sec. 300.11(D) did not apply to the Class 2 cable since Sec. 722.3 states in part, “only those sections of Art. 300 referenced in this article shall apply,” and Sections 722.3(A) through (O) make no mention of Sec. 300.11.
In this case the installer missed the last sentence of Sec. 722.24(A) which states “the installation shall conform to Sec. 300.4 and 300.11.” The original MC cable installation seems Code-compliant, but once the Class 2 cable got secured to the MC cable, that was when the violations occurred.
About the Author
Russ LeBlanc
Owner
Russ started in the electrical trade as an apprentice in 1985. He worked his way up to become a Journeyman Electrician and then eventually became a Master Electrician and Licensed Construction Supervisor. In 1999 Russ become an Electrical Instructor for The Peterson School of Engineering in Massachusetts where he developed his passion for teaching, and quickly became Department Head of Electrical Instruction. Russ has taught thousands of apprentices, electricians, engineers, inspectors, and other electrical professionals during his career as an instructor. He continues to provide electrical professionals with Electrical Code seminars, Arc-Flash Awareness training seminars and educational material through his LeBlanc Consulting Services in North Reading, MA whose specialty is educating electricians. He has been an active member of the NFPA Electrical Section and has authored hundreds of National Electrical Code proposals and comments which have become Code rules to improve the safety for the electrical industry. Russ is also an IAEI certified Electrical Inspector.
Please visit www.russleblanc.net for more information.