On Sun, 5 Feb 2012 15:32:38 -0500, "Mike Homes"
wrote:


"RBM" wrote in message ...
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.

Shouldn't the municipalities be forced to follow the NEC?
NEC does not have the power of law until the government of a given
area says it does. A county can adopt the NEC verbatim, can publish
their own code based on the NEC with changes, can refer to the NEC, or
adopt whatever code they see fit (including no code at all)
Not sure if a state can mandate a minimum code requirement or not -
but if it can and does, a county can still demand a higher level of
compliance.

They can also adopt whichever version of the NEC they see fit to adopt
- from current code to, say, 1996 code.