I recently purchased NM plastic staples that had install info on the package that said "secures 14/2 and 12/2 NM cables". It did not give a number of cables that could be secured under 1 staple. Directly next to these was another manufacturers product that said secures up to (2) 14/2 and (2) 12/2 cables. Would securing 3 NM cables with the first product be a code violation? May sound petty, but if you drop more than 2 cables down a stud and try to stagger staple them you are then in violation of the 1.25" dimension off the stud face. I realize that stackers are sold for this purpose, but at approx. .30 apiece vs. 02 for a staple it's worth knowing the allowable use of the staple. BTW, these are plastisc staples with the nails already installed. Thanks.
NM staples
- Thread starter nizak
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Massachusetts
Technically if they are listed staples 110.3(B) requires us to follow the listing and labeling.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
Why would the instructions for a completely different product apply?
In any case, you could always staple 2 of them and then tie wrap the 3rd cable to the other two.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
I don't see how instructions from one product would apply to a different one, even if they look identical.
Sierrasparky
Senior Member
- Location
- USA
- Occupation
- Electrician ,contractor
I would agree.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I have never used 3 cables under one staple. Use the cable stackers. I have seen red tags for 3 nms under one staple and I am surprised that the staple would hold with 3 cables unless they are very long.
BTW, plastic staples???? Do you mean insulated staples?
BTW, plastic staples???? Do you mean insulated staples?
curt swartz
Electrical Contractor - San Jose, CA
- Location
- San Jose, CA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
This has come up a number of times on the forum. I have never used or seen a UL listed Romex staple. The markings on the box are only manufactures recommendations. Most of them date back to the early days when Romex was about twice the size it is now.
Its really just a judgment call of the installer to determine the size and the number of cables you can secure with a staple. Of course your inspector needs to be happy with it too. If he or she pulls on the cable and the staple pops out you are not going to pass inspection.
We frequently will secure 3 12/2 or 14/2 cables with 9/16" staples. I would not try to secure more than 2 cables with the standard 1/2" staples.
Its really just a judgment call of the installer to determine the size and the number of cables you can secure with a staple. Of course your inspector needs to be happy with it too. If he or she pulls on the cable and the staple pops out you are not going to pass inspection.
We frequently will secure 3 12/2 or 14/2 cables with 9/16" staples. I would not try to secure more than 2 cables with the standard 1/2" staples.
qcroanoke
Sometimes I don't know if I'm the boxer or the bag
- Location
- Roanoke, VA.
- Occupation
- Sorta retired........
I use the larger staples. The 1/2" ones make my fingers and thumb way to good of a target!
I also think the "secures up to two 14/2 and 12/2 cables" should really be an OR not an AND. You can put two cables under it, but with 4 the nails will hardly be in the wood.
The labeling on packages is most frustrating for many things. It is what drives me to the better stores that carry products with recommendations or listing information (printing that information on the box must cost a few more pennies, as those products tend to cost just a bit more). I got turned off of GE residential panels because of their lack of listing details. Perhaps you can go to a manufacturer's website and go dig and find it. But 10 years from now when that specific product has long been discontinued, will that listing information still be there? If its on the label, it is always available. For staples, just save the box...
The labeling on packages is most frustrating for many things. It is what drives me to the better stores that carry products with recommendations or listing information (printing that information on the box must cost a few more pennies, as those products tend to cost just a bit more). I got turned off of GE residential panels because of their lack of listing details. Perhaps you can go to a manufacturer's website and go dig and find it. But 10 years from now when that specific product has long been discontinued, will that listing information still be there? If its on the label, it is always available. For staples, just save the box...
Volta
Senior Member
- Location
- Columbus, Ohio
Except for-
NEC 300.11(C) said:
But one staple with a cable tie binding multiple cables should be fine.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Sturgeon Bay Metal Products staples are listed. I can't speak much for others as SBMP is all suppliers here carry. Big box stores carry GB, which I personally dislike. You can drive the nails of the SBMP into fairly hard wood with few issues, nails in GB seem to bend over much easier when driving in harder wood.
And Dennis, SBMP does make different staples designed and listed for stacking NM cables. The ones with the deepest body are designed to stack four 14-2 or 12-2 NM cables, without damaging the cable - as long as you don't really get after it and pound it into really soft wood anyway.
Funny thing is since they are listed, it is wrong to install cable combinations not listed in the instructions under them, but use a non listed staple and do the same thing and all is fine:roll:
- Status