RMC between buildings? Overhead?

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c_picard

Senior Member
Location
USA
Scenario: Detached garage, approx. 3ft from a house. Problem; Need to get power from one to the other, trench would involve breaking up a concrete apron.

I've honestly never seen this, but it has been suggested (not by me) to run a piece of ridged between the structures to avoid a trench. I can't find anything to prohibit this (I still don't like it), and all the clearance requirements seem to apply to aerial conductors, not conduit.

I feel like the code is silent on the matter because this is a silly idea, and no one has thought that explicitly addressing this was even necessary. I'm hoping there's something in the building code that would ix-nay this idea, because I really do not want to see this as a solution.

Question: Is there a Code (NEC or building, if anyone is familiar with the IRC) article I can point to in order to get the trench to happen?
 
A/A Fuel GTX

A/A Fuel GTX

Senior Member
Location
WI & AZ
Occupation
Electrician
I think if the RMC is properly supported, it would not be an illegal installation. I don't see anything in 225 that would prohibit what you describe. Of course, common sense would be required to be sure the RMC is out of harms way.
 
L

Lectricbota

Senior Member
Location
Rocky Mountain Region
c_picard said:
Scenario: Detached garage, approx. 3ft from a house. Problem; Need to get power from one to the other, trench would involve breaking up a concrete apron.

I've honestly never seen this, but it has been suggested (not by me) to run a piece of ridged between the structures to avoid a trench. I can't find anything to prohibit this (I still don't like it), and all the clearance requirements seem to apply to aerial conductors, not conduit.

I feel like the code is silent on the matter because this is a silly idea, and no one has thought that explicitly addressing this was even necessary. I'm hoping there's something in the building code that would ix-nay this idea, because I really do not want to see this as a solution.

Question: Is there a Code (NEC or building, if anyone is familiar with the IRC) article I can point to in order to get the trench to happen?
Click to expand...


I just finished a similar install. I used an expansion coupling between the buildings even though that was probably not necessary.

Does not look bad at all and it will last forever.
 
tom baker

tom baker

First Chief Moderator
Staff member
Location
Bremerton, Washington
I just ran 1" RMC between a MCC and wall spaning 5ft in the air. Similar, but different in your location, the RMC could be used for pull ups or?
Strap it really well - strut and clamps.
 
Smart $

Smart $

Esteemed Member
Location
Ohio
Run from building to building I would think an expansion fitting will be required in the run to be a technically compliant installation. In residential situations, I imagine it would be "overlooked". :blink:
 
A/A Fuel GTX

A/A Fuel GTX

Senior Member
Location
WI & AZ
Occupation
Electrician
Smart $ said:
Run from building to building I would think an expansion fitting will be required in the run to be a technically compliant installation. In residential situations, I imagine it would be "overlooked". :blink:
Click to expand...

An expansion fitting for RMC?
 
S

Scratchbuilt

Member
Location
Denver, CO
A 3ft. piece of GRC conduit spanning between two buildings would look better and would last longer (in my opinion) than an overhead cable (spanning 3'???). I can find nothing in the Code that would prohibit this. An expansion coupling would not be required (as far as I can find) since the raceway is not PVC. I have seen this done many times and it is fine as long as the raceway cannot be hung on or tripped over. You would need to supply a disconnecting means at the separate building though.
 
Smart $

Smart $

Esteemed Member
Location
Ohio
Scratchbuilt said:
I would not consider a gap between two separate buildings a structural joint if the buildings are not connected in any way. What's structural about air?
Click to expand...
It's not the air... :rotflmao:

It's more that separate structures can move with respect to each other... same reason structural joints are included in single structures.
 
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