Support column as electrical raceway?

[Slowbuilder]

Hey Sparkies!!

I have an outdoor shade structure that sits on a concrete slab and has a frame of 3" galvanized pipe with a corrugated tin roof. The pipes are structural, open at the ends, and bolted together to form the frame. I have power on one side of the structure, and I would like to hang some outdoor lights on the opposite side of it.

Can I use the horizontal 3" galvanized pipe that is under the roof as a raceway to run THHN from one side to the other, or do I need to put conduit (EMT, likely) inside (or outside for that matter) the pipe?

It's not a huge deal, as the structure is only about 19' wide.

Here's a photo of a typical corner "joint" of the structure.

 

[dscheidt]

The pipe is not rated as a raceway. Run conduit, or use low voltage stuff with wire in the pipe.

 

[southalabama]

Standard galvanized water pipes have rough interior seams or burrs that can strip wire insulation, and they lack certification under the National Electrical Code (NEC).

Use the proper conduit.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

not listed for use.

install EMT

 

[Codyboy]

That doesn't look like 3", but whatever.
Are you sure its not actually "conduit" instead of pipe?

Either way I would do it but use a bushing on the ends.
However it's going to look dumb and will be unprotected if the wire will be exposed from where it exits the one conduit and going into the other conduit.

 

[Bert_]

You could fish UF through it if you really didn't want to run conduit on the surface.