Rough-in inspection. Am I in trouble??

[katit]

I'm getting there with wiring garage and today I started to gougle what I need to rough-in inspection. And what mistakes people make. Here is one thing I found:

http://www.co.gaston.nc.us/BuildingInspections/PDF/ResidentialElectricalRough-inInspection.pdf

Under "Garage" section they say:
Panel in not allowed in garage firewall…….300-21
I checked NEC 300-21 and it's nothing special about panel, it's about fire penetration. Framing inspector told me to make sure use fireproof caulk when I drill through the ceiling. I assume same goes for the basement.

I don't have panel on firewall, it's subpanel. And it's not "IN" firewall. As you see I had old plastered wall and framed all around (masonry construction) so firewall will actually be double-wall and panel has plaster behind it.

Also, where wire enters from basement on a bottom - it's just a big drilled hole, wire passes through 2 2x8 members and fixed properly on both sides.

Does it look OK? I don't want to call inspector and bother unless it is a problem. Then I need to deal with it now before I put another circuits on.

I showed all drawings/plans when obtained permit and there was nothing said about it..

Thanks!

 

[Terry Kennedy]

I don't have panel on firewall, it's subpanel. And it's not "IN" firewall.

I don't have any comments on what your particular inspector will do. HOWEVER - it is a really bad idea to play "language lawyer", which is the way (at least to me) you're coming across here. Remember, "because I said so" is all the inspector has to say to deny you. You need to be very certain where you stand if you try to do something like that. I've done it and won (in New York City, no less) but I've also done it (in a case where I was "more right" than the NYC one) in NJ and lost.

 

[katit]

Terry, I'm not trying to argue anything here. I'm just asking you guys to interpret it.

That requirement is just for some county in US, it's not document for our county and I found it in one place only. So, I wonder if it is common requirement and if I should bother asking inspector about it. It will be harder to fix (move panel) if I put another 5 branches in there..

 

[Terry Kennedy]

Terry, I'm not trying to argue anything here. I'm just asking you guys to interpret it.

Ok. You definitely don't want to have the inspector make the same mistake I did.

Does your location have an inquiry number for the inspection office? Around here, you can call and ask their opinion on whether a proposed installation method would be approved. I'd say it would be much better to ask first if there was any chance of a problem later on.

In the NJ case I mentioned above, asking first made the job cost me around $1500 more, but at least I didn't have to rip everything out and start over (with a pissed-off inspector).

 

[MrMark]

That's good advice. Tell us what the inspector says about the fire wall.

 

[katit]

I was asking here because someone may say "thats not what it meant" or something like that. Anyway, I called and asked. They said they have no problem with this at all and was surprised I'm asking. He said make sure all holes caulked. And that was it. Ah. He also said to ask building inspector - but I'm not even going to ask because it's not structural and when guy inspected framing he was very cool about everything I was doing and just mentioned to caulk those holes and replace old door with fireproof one

I feel better now since I got 110ft run of 2-2-2-3

 

[Nostraquedeo]

If your panel has not penetrated the fire wall and disrupted the 1 or 2 hour rating of the wall, you should be fine. Where wires or conduit penetrate a fire wall, you need to fire caulk them as you mentioned.

 

[katit]

Ok. Inspection done. I got comliment from inspector on everything but still failed it

3 items:
1. Speaker wire is not rated for in-wall installation.
2. No end caps where conduit terminates in attic space
3. Need running board for 2 wires in attic (within 6 feet from access hole)

Simple stuff - less then 20 minutes to fix but yet he said to call him when done so he comes back to check it. Oh well. All other stuff (about 10 branch circuits) is all good.

 

[LoneGunman]

Ok. Inspection done. I got comliment from inspector on everything but still failed it

3 items:
1. Speaker wire is not rated for in-wall installation.
2. No end caps where conduit terminates in attic space
3. Need running board for 2 wires in attic (within 6 feet from access hole)

Simple stuff - less then 20 minutes to fix but yet he said to call him when done so he comes back to check it. Oh well. All other stuff (about 10 branch circuits) is all good.

Sounds like he's just being as azzhole, no speaker wire in the walls is ridiculous, I can't count how many times we install speaker wire in the walls and pass inspection. A rat run for 2 wires seems excessive also. I agree with him about putting something over the stub up in the attic to protect the wire, may not be code required but it's protecting your investment and it's cheap.

 

[katit]

Sounds like he's just being as azzhole, no speaker wire in the walls is ridiculous, I can't count how many times we install speaker wire in the walls and pass inspection. A rat run for 2 wires seems excessive also. I agree with him about putting something over the stub up in the attic to protect the wire, may not be code required but it's protecting your investment and it's cheap.

No, speaker wire is OK but not the one I installed. It even says on package "not for in-wall installation" I already bought proper romex covered speaker wire that I will use.

It's not going to cost me to call him again, strange why he wan't to do it himself. He could easily re-check those items on final but he wanted me to fix them and call for rough-in again.

It looks especially strange given that I have 10+ circuits, 100A subpanel, about 25 boxes/outlets and 700+ feet of wire used. And all that stuff is fine. He also complimented on quality of work.

 

[welderwink]

most inspectors wont just recheck things on a final if they dont have a good prior working relationship with you. after they know your work then you can get away with the "ill just check that on the final" but he doesnt know you, and he takes his job seriously.

 

[katit]

I called in for re-try yesterday and he said he will swing by today so hopefully I will get that out of my way and be ready for drywall.

 

[katit]

Ok. He was there and passed. I got sticker and mistery revealed. Looks like I will be billed $41 for additional inspection. I guess if it was free he would trust me to replace 25 feet of speker wire...

 

[MrMark]

No doubt. What are these caps you are referring to? Are these bushings?

 

[katit]

I guess bushings. Those are like rings you put on end of pipe so romex doesn't get cut. It's going from inside pipe and over lip slightly. He said that he meant something little different but what I got from HD is fine.

 

[MrMark]

OK, I think I know what you mean. Those are essential to prevent chafing if they are what I am think of.

http://www.bptfittings.com/Catalog/CatalogFamily.aspx?CategoryId=23&FamilyId=610

Something like this, only for the end of what EMT?

How did you get it over the wire? Are they split?

 

[katit]

Yes, like that but they made out of softer nylon and split. About $1.50 for bag of 16 in HD

I have metal box on a wall and emt going up to the celing area where wire exits. Thats where those used. I did EMT because wall is from 2x4 flush with a wall and there is no space to meet 1 1/4 inch requirement.

 

[MrMark]

Makes sense. Good to know about that.

How many romex cables did you sleeve in that EMT? What size EMT?

How would one do conduit fill calculation on romex in EMT?

 

[oleguy]

OK, I think I know what you mean. Those are essential to prevent chafing if they are what I am think of.

http://www.bptfittings.com/Catalog/CatalogFamily.aspx?CategoryId=23&FamilyId=610

Something like this, only for the end of what EMT?

How did you get it over the wire? Are they split?

those are not for conduit.they are for the hole in a metal box when you remove knockout.

 

[MrMark]

those are not for conduit.they are for the hole in a metal box when you remove knockout.

Yes, I know that. That's what I said above. I was just trying to post something similar.

 

[walrus]

Yes, like that but they made out of softer nylon and split. About $1.50 for bag of 16 in HD

I have metal box on a wall and emt going up to the celing area where wire exits. Thats where those used. I did EMT because wall is from 2x4 flush with a wall and there is no space to meet 1 1/4 inch requirement.

These work real well for what you did
http://www.usahardware.com/inet/shop/item/30130/icn/20-812719/thomas_betts/tx210.htm

 

[katit]

Walrus,

Yes, those are good. I didn't want to pull wire again, so for my purpose those plastic thingies were just fine. Also I wasn't sure 2 wires through that thing will look OK

MrMark, I'm not sure how to calculate romex fill in conduit, therefore I tried to stay safe. I used 1/2 conduit and had them like this:
1. 1 12/2 wire
2. 1 14/2 wire
3/ 1 14/2 + 1 14/3

He didn't really look at it I think.. I honestly think he liked everything but wanted to come back to generate more revenue for county. Which I don't understand... But don't like