Romex in new Pole Barn Construction??

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

I found a thread from many years ago on running romex in a Pole Building, which really didn't give any direct answers.

I know almost all is determined by what the local inspector wants, but here is my plan & question.

My walls will be covered in 3/4" plywood up to 8' with a reinforced vapor barrier above that over batt insulation.
So all romex 8' and below will be inside the walls & protected.
Ceiling will have metal liner panel and blown in above.

Posts are 3 laminated 2x6, would you drill the center of the posts to route the romex through the walls?
This is my current thought / direction planned.

 

[Mikes61]

My inspector wanted any exposed Romex below 6’ off the ground to be covered. The thinking was anything above 6’ wouldn’t get damaged by a car or while working in the garage.

 

[willf650]

My pole barn is wired with romex exposed on the poles stapled to the side of them. I didn't drill any posts and routed all the wire above the finished ceiling. Wiring simply came down the poles to the panel and devices.

If someone damages the romex on the side of the poles with a car you have a lot more to be concerned with than the wiring. Inspector never said a word about it.

 

[.mike.]

My pole barn is wired with romex exposed on the poles stapled to the side of them. I didn't drill any posts and routed all the wire above the finished ceiling. Wiring simply came down the poles to the panel and devices.

If someone damages the romex on the side of the poles with a car you have a lot more to be concerned with than the wiring. Inspector never said a word about it.

Same. No drilling, and ceiling is exposed. Some conduit runs here and there, but mostly romex stapled to framing.

 

[manwithtools]

I avoided drilling my laminated posts intentionally. I have 2x4 interior girts and to go around a post, I laid the romex flat against the face of the post just above a girt. That gave the required 1-1/4" (similar to a hole in the center of a 2x4 stud) clearance from the face of the girt to the romex.

 

[mm08822]

Drilling the centerline of studs/posts meets the distance criteria used for protection from nails, etc. Hole edges have to be 1-1/4" from stud faces otherwise nail plates are needed. A 1" hole in a 2x4 meets this criteria. Even easier to meet with 2x6.

If multiple holes are needed, the holes are better stacked on top of each other (vertically) for the least structural impact. Without specific details making for exceptions, IIRC, 1/3 of the stud depth can be bored out from the center. There are some other requirements for notching,

Running nm-b cable in the studs on the inside face of the girts would be your cheapest option w/o risk of damage or inspector challenge due to wall covering. When the girt reaches the post, do as already mention above to bore through post.

You may even want to consider a wider girt to be able to run more cables along it if you have a lot of electrical.

Edit: modified for girts not studs. This explanation also assumes your girts are on the exterior side of the posts.

 

[manwithtools]

Running nm-b cable in the studs would be your cheapest option.

But his is pole building, so no studs are used in its construction.

 

[mm08822]

But his is pole building, so no studs are used in its construction.

Ahhh, pics still in my head from other recent posts! I'll correct it.

 

[manwithtools]

I thought a picture might help explain my prior post. I did not want to drill thru my laminated posts to avoid compromising them in any way. So where I needed to cross a post, I did what is shown in this picture. this maintains the 1-1/4" clearance from the face of the horizontal girt.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

What are you going to use the pole barn for?……. Animals, storage, car repair, etc.

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

It will be a shop & storage, no animals with the exception of the owner.

NO interior girts will be present, I'm placing 2x6 bookshelf girts so the 3/4 ply will be mounted to the interior surface of the poles & 2x6's.

That 3" is important space

I'm thinking 3/4" holes through the center of the laminated posts at this point in time.
Running things to the ceiling would be ALOT of extra wire.

 

[manwithtools]

That 3" is important space

I thought that too, then I just decided it was easier and stronger to use inside girts. Each case is different and each owner choses what's best for them!

 

[willf650]

Honestly if your having the pole barn built I would do a fair share of the wiring in the ground beneath the slab with PVC conduit. Especially circuits to the opposite walls of your panel location to atleast get them over there.

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

Honestly if your having the pole barn built I would do a fair share of the wiring in the ground beneath the slab with PVC conduit. Especially circuits to the opposite walls of your panel location to atleast get them over there.

I had that thought, but only 2 circuits will be to the far wall.
& that is only 30' of extra wire to get them there above the ceiling- not that big a deal.
Most likely a wash on cost.