Empty Conduits must be removed ?

[mobiledynamics]

Neatness aside, I was speaking my my electrician. He got dinged on inspections as whatever leftover conduit that was *pre existing* but it was unused, apparently by code it needs to be removed. With the word conduit, I'm not sure if this was inside or outside wall....but go figure. Is this a thing:violation in your neck of the woods

 

[BrandonV]

Sounds like the inspector should cite his source.

 

[Rc_Guy]

Neatness aside, I was speaking my my electrician. He got dinged on inspections as whatever leftover conduit that was *pre existing* but it was unused, apparently by code it needs to be removed. With the word conduit, I'm not sure if this was inside or outside wall....but go figure. Is this a thing:violation in your neck of the woods

Yes. I had an inspection on my fire sprinkler install about 6 years ago for adding and relocating sprinkler heads in an office complex. The fire inspector told me all the unused conduit has to be removed, I told him to tell the general contractor because it is not my problem.

I’m not sure about electrical code, but that’s what the fire inspector told me but like I said, it’s not my problem.

 

[Wrench97]

I've heard removed or sealed/fire stopped.

 

[Innovate1]

Seems like a nonsense rule if true. I put in several unused conduits when I built my house. And they came in very handy for things later. Same with the shop built years later. But the inspectors here are very reasonable IMHO. Nothing in the OP if it is residential or commercial - not sure if it makes a difference...

 

[LXCam]

The conduit does not have to be removed. However it does need to terminate into a junction box or conduit body, be capped or blank plated off and can be identified as a future if they go that far with it.

 

[BrandonV]

Seems like a nonsense rule if true. I put in several unused conduits when I built my house. And they came in very handy for things later. Same with the shop built years later. But the inspectors here are very reasonable IMHO. Nothing in the OP if it is residential or commercial - not sure if it makes a difference...

It begs the question if conduit is not attached to anything on either end if its a conduit at all .

 

[micromind]

I've never seen anything in the code about it but I have been on jobs where the engineer required them to be removed.

 

[PCustoms]

Sounds like fore code, not electrical code.

See comments above about blocking off or terminating.

 

[Bert_]

I could see an issue if they are open on one end and terminate inside equipment on the other. But if you have a box on each end I would ask for a reference.

I run empty extra conduits underground all the time.

 

[Debcrow]

When installing conduits I have put in extra 'spare' ones for future use. I have done the same for piping in or under a concrete pad.
I always cap them. If for no other reason than to keep water, insect nests, dirt, etc. out of them.
Inspector has never commented about them.

 

[sparky 1971]

Nope. The only thing the NEC specifies about unused is openings. Spare conduits for future use are run all the time and either terminate in a box or have a cap on the end of the pipe.

 

[mm08822]

There are several requirements for removal of abandoned cable unless labeled & identified for future use. Removal seems to stop at readily accessible (not in walls). Look up "Cable, abandoned" and you can find specific articles.

No mention of conduit removal, but sealing them off due to temperature changes, moisture and critters makes sense.

 

[mm08822]

Seems like this is directed at the telephone / cable / IT installers who only know how to add more **** and leave owners with artifacts of yester year.

 

[Norcal]

**

 

[BrandonV]

Seems like this is directed at the telephone / cable / IT installers who only know how to add more **** and leave owners with artifacts of yester year.

What is removing cable? I cringe when I see stuff from 30-40 years ago just sitting in a cable tray.

 

[Norcal]

Seems like this is directed at the telephone / cable / IT installers who only know how to add more **** and leave owners with artifacts of yester year.

The only use for low voltage installers is as the subject of medical experiments, the **** they do left a nasty taste.


Abandoned low voltage cable is supposed to be removed with some exceptions.

 

[dscheidt]

What is removing cable? I cringe when I see stuff from 30-40 years ago just sitting in a cable tray.

In the late 90s, I had some lab computers in a raised floor machine room lab. It was built in the 50s, by AT&T Long Lines, as a switch lab, with two long distance switches, and had a series of switches and their adjunct processors until the mid 70s, when it became a computer machine room. It had a 5' deep raised floor! The only way you'd know that is by counting the steps as you entered from the hall. if you pulled a tile to run a cable, you'd have at most a foot of empty space, and in most of it, only a couple inches. I pulled a couple cables (big fat card cage exentions cables) that I knew were bad, and the reaction from the guys who ran the lab was one of horror. I may have been the only person to ever remove a cable -- telco craft workers are (or were then) full of horror stories about removing the wrong cable. When we moved out in 2000, they pulled literal truckloads of cable out of the floor, something like 20 tons of reclaimed copper.

 

[ratflinger]

I've been in plenty of data centers where there was a lot of empty conduit through the wall. It was all capped, but available.

 

[Stuart in MN]

In the late 90s, I had some lab computers in a raised floor machine room lab. It was built in the 50s, by AT&T Long Lines, as a switch lab, with two long distance switches, and had a series of switches and their adjunct processors until the mid 70s, when it became a computer machine room. It had a 5' deep raised floor! The only way you'd know that is by counting the steps as you entered from the hall. if you pulled a tile to run a cable, you'd have at most a foot of empty space, and in most of it, only a couple inches. I pulled a couple cables (big fat card cage exentions cables) that I knew were bad, and the reaction from the guys who ran the lab was one of horror. I may have been the only person to ever remove a cable -- telco craft workers are (or were then) full of horror stories about removing the wrong cable. When we moved out in 2000, they pulled literal truckloads of cable out of the floor, something like 20 tons of reclaimed copper.

During college I worked one summer at an IBM facility. The place was huge, with two main corridors that ran the length of the building. Overhead in each corridor were cable trays where they ran all the networking cables. They never removed old or unused cables, they just added new ones when they were needed. I would guess those piles of cables were six feet wide by a couple feet deep in cross section, I can't even guess how many tons of copper were up there (or why the cable trays hadn't fallen to the ground.)

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Neatness aside, I was speaking my my electrician. He got dinged on inspections as whatever leftover conduit that was *pre existing* but it was unused, apparently by code it needs to be removed. With the word conduit, I'm not sure if this was inside or outside wall....but go figure. Is this a thing:violation in your neck of the woods

ask the inspector to cite the code or take a hike. never heard of such a code. extra conduits are installed on projects all the time

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I've heard removed or sealed/fire stopped.

fire stopped conduit coming out of the ground?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

The only use for low voltage installers is as the subject of medical experiments, the **** they do left a nasty taste.


Abandoned low voltage cable is supposed to be removed with some exceptions.

I could say the same thing about electricians whom attempt to do low voltage work but fail miserably at it.

I have fixed so much **** work done by licensed electricians its not even funny anymore.

 

[N_Jay]

Sounds like fore code, not electrical code.

See comments above about blocking off or terminating.

The electrical code IS fire code.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Sounds like fore code, not electrical code.

See comments above about blocking off or terminating.

electrical code is written by the NFPA- national fire protection association... one in the same

 

[rancherbill]

I asked Gemini AI I am the bold comments

in the US are unused electrical conduits supposed to removed in a renovation?



No, unused electrical conduits in the US are not necessarily supposed to be removed during a renovation. Here's why:

• Futureproofing: Leaving them in place can be a smart way to anticipate future electrical needs. You might want to add new outlets or fixtures later, and having existing conduit makes it easier to run the wires.
• Cost and Disruption: Removing them can be time-consuming and expensive, especially if they're located within walls or floors. It might also involve patching and repairs after removal.
• Safety: If the conduits are in good condition and properly capped at the ends, they pose no safety hazard and can be left safely behind walls.

However, there are some situations where removing unused conduits might be advisable:

• Damaged Conduit: If the conduit is cracked, broken, or otherwise damaged, it's best to remove it to prevent future problems.
• In the Way: If the conduit is directly in the way of your renovation plans, like rerouting plumbing or installing a new window, it might be easier to remove it.
• Peace of Mind: If having unused conduit behind your walls bothers you, you can choose to remove it for aesthetic reasons.

Here's the key takeaway: Consult a licensed electrician during your renovation. They can assess the condition, location, and size of the unused conduits and advise you on the best course of action, considering your specific needs and renovation plans.


So, i can assume that there' nothing in the electrical code about this.


You're mostly right. There isn't a specific rule in the National Electrical Code (NEC) that mandates removing unused electrical conduits during renovations. However, the NEC does have a general rule that can be interpreted to address them indirectly:

• Section 110.12(A) of the NEC focuses on unused openings. It states that "unused openings in enclosures, raceways, surface raceways, or fittings shall be effectively closed." Conduits with open ends could be considered unused openings.

This my answer and I'm sticking to it.

 

[PCustoms]

The electrical code IS fire code.

Yeah, not sure what I was thinking there. Brain went "NEC" not "NFPA-70" and ignored that they're the same.

I had a case where we got dinged on an annual fire safety inspection for open penetrations. Can't recall if this was state fire Marshal or the insurance, but the company was very afraid of fire. From what I remember:

• Hole drilled in a firewall by IT/alarm installer but not fire stopped
• Ceiling of main electrical room (20yrs old, previously inspected by state) had multi conduit penetrations not sealed. Funny thing, the wall behind the switchgear was a wide open cavity between first, so sealing the ceiling wouldn't matter in a fire.

 

[Rc_Guy]

I asked Gemini AI I am the bold comments

in the US are unused electrical conduits supposed to removed in a renovation?



No, unused electrical conduits in the US are not necessarily supposed to be removed during a renovation. Here's why:

• Futureproofing: Leaving them in place can be a smart way to anticipate future electrical needs. You might want to add new outlets or fixtures later, and having existing conduit makes it easier to run the wires.
• Cost and Disruption: Removing them can be time-consuming and expensive, especially if they're located within walls or floors. It might also involve patching and repairs after removal.
• Safety: If the conduits are in good condition and properly capped at the ends, they pose no safety hazard and can be left safely behind walls.

However, there are some situations where removing unused conduits might be advisable:

• Damaged Conduit: If the conduit is cracked, broken, or otherwise damaged, it's best to remove it to prevent future problems.
• In the Way: If the conduit is directly in the way of your renovation plans, like rerouting plumbing or installing a new window, it might be easier to remove it.
• Peace of Mind: If having unused conduit behind your walls bothers you, you can choose to remove it for aesthetic reasons.

Here's the key takeaway: Consult a licensed electrician during your renovation. They can assess the condition, location, and size of the unused conduits and advise you on the best course of action, considering your specific needs and renovation plans.


So, i can assume that there' nothing in the electrical code about this.


You're mostly right. There isn't a specific rule in the National Electrical Code (NEC) that mandates removing unused electrical conduits during renovations. However, the NEC does have a general rule that can be interpreted to address them indirectly:

• Section 110.12(A) of the NEC focuses on unused openings. It states that "unused openings in enclosures, raceways, surface raceways, or fittings shall be effectively closed." Conduits with open ends could be considered unused openings.

This my answer and I'm sticking to it.

Who is Gemini?

 

[mike93lx]

Who is Gemini?

Google's AI

 

[N_Jay]

. . . . Funny thing, the wall behind the switchgear was a wide open cavity between first, so sealing the ceiling wouldn't matter in a fire.
[/LIST]

Shhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If the inspector doesn't see it, it doesn't exist.
However, if the inspector imagines it, it does!

 

[rancherbill]

Who is Gemini?

https://gemini.google.com/app

 

[Rc_Guy]

https://gemini.google.com/app

Huh, never heard of that until now.

 

[rancherbill]

Huh, never heard of that until now.

Now you know.

Ask it some questions you know the answer and see them. Ask it write a story about a little girl riding her pony to see here Grandpa. It will not give medical advice, but ask it about a condition . For example, give me a 200 word explanation of why muscles ache after exercise.

My son and myself were golfing and we wondered what the houses were priced around the course. The answer was It checked two real estate site and came up with the average range and a description of the outliers.

 

[jfleisher]

I spent literally years in my data center removing deprecated copper and fiber cabling. I had to document my process for removals for management, who were afraid of the wrong cabling being removed. Most of my process documentation consisted of “while holding the unplugged end of the cable, pull gently”.

I have removed many miles of old copper trunk and IBM bus and tag cabling.

 

[jcupp]

When we moved our business into a new space a few years ago we discovered that it had been a call center in the 70s. I cut out several long 25 pair phone cables that were above the suspended ceiling. The wiring room has a five foot wide section of terminal blocks for what must be a few hundred analog phone lines. We have three (IP) phones!