On 2/5/2012 1:55 PM, Dean Hoffman wrote:
On 2/5/12 12:44 PM, RBM wrote:
On 2/5/2012 1:34 PM, Mike Homes wrote:

The city of Chicago and some surrounding areas require wiring to be in
EMT or better conduit.
Most everywhere else in the United States allows Romex.


Is Romex wiring too lenient?

Is the conduit requirement too excessive?

There are Chicago code nazis that will defend the conduit requirement.

Maybe conduit should be required everywhere?

Maybe the NEC should require everyone to rip out their walls and put in
conduit?

Are electricians that install NM a bunch of 'Rubes'?

Who's right?

Not necessarily a matter of right or wrong, sometimes politics enter the
picture. You install wiring according to the rules imposed by the
municipality that has jurisdiction. In areas like Chicago, the work is
more labor intensive, having to use conduit. This may put more money in
the pocket of the installer. It also may be that those in power feel it
is safer to be in conduit.

Which leads to a question on inspectors. Are inspectors immune from
lawsuits if they screw up and pass something that isn't code compliant?

Or possibly things they missed. My belief is that if I wire a place that
burns, regardless of inspections or anything else, if it burns because
of my wiring, I go to jail.