Protecting Romex?

[bbrz]

Does the NEC require protection of horizontal Romex exposed between studs?
Example- Unfinished space, romex between outlet boxes in a wall not covered with drywall, particle board, ect. The non metallic wire is in 1" holes at 1.5 from the face.

 

[Dagny]

pretty big hole.

 

[Norcal]

It differs in other jurisdictions but anything below the 8 foot level needs to be protected, before all the garages were finished with drywall around the City, & County I live in, drywall was put on just the stud bays that had wiring in them, electrical was pretty minimal though.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

334.10 in the NEC says NM cable must be covered with a 15-minute fire rating. I believe the NEC prohibits NM where subject to physical damage, but they do not define this. It is left up to individual discretion, and inspectors probably don't like it.

There are thousands of garages with unprotected Romex in unfinished walls. If you're having something inspected I would talk to the local inspector first.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

I'd say it depends on location.
In omaha/Douglas county we can't have any exposed romex,even in basement ceilings.
In Bellevue and across the bridge into cb iowa it just has to be protected up to bottom of joists,then you can run all the Romex you want.