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inspector says, can't paint wire?

13K views 13 replies 8 participants last post by  mikemy6 
#1 · (Edited)
My friend is selling his house and the inspector is giving him grief about romex he painted to match the room. he claims the wire must "breath"...

Now I have seen countless numbers of houses with painted romex, I don't know if its upto code or not, what do you think?
 
#5 ·
yeah, breath? doesn't copper + air = oxidation????

the only thing I could THINK he means is that the paint might react with the insulation?

Will it be anywhere in code that you CAN paint wire? Where can I look at this?
 
#6 · (Edited)
That's a new one. Unfortunately our electrician is on vacation this week in Florida and not answering phone calls.

I understand the concept about wiring insulation & heat...but I can't seem to find anything about this being a valid point, and in all these years in the building industry...I have never heard of this. :huh: I even checked on the General cable Industries website and found no references:

http://www.generalcable.com/GeneralCable/

If this is fact...then it's real piece of valuable trivia knowledge.....
 
#10 ·
My concern would be have romex exposed. Where is this romex that it is painted? Romex is for use in concealed walls.
Not true Darren. NM cabe CAN most certainly be used exposed.

334.15 Exposed Work
In exposed work, except as provided in 300.11(A), cable shall be installed as specified in 334.15(A) through (C).
(A) To Follow Surface Cable shall closely follow the surface of the building finish or of running boards.
(B) Protection from Physical Damage Cable shall be protected from physical damage where necessary by rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing, Schedule 80 PVC rigid nonmetallic conduit, or other approved means. Where passing through a floor, the cable shall be enclosed in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing, Schedule 80 PVC rigid nonmetallic conduit, or other approved means extending at least 150 mm (6 in.) above the floor.
Where Type NMC cable is installed in shallow chases in masonry, concrete, or adobe, the cable shall be protected against nails or screws by a steel plate at least 1.59 mm ( 1/ 16 in.) thick and covered with plaster, adobe, or similar finish.
(C) In Unfinished Basements Where cable is run at angles with joists in unfinished basements, it shall be permissible to secure cables not smaller than two 6 AWG or three 8 AWG conductors directly to the lower edges of the joists. Smaller cables shall be run either through bored holes in joists or on running boards. NM cable used on a wall of an unfinished basement shall be permitted to be installed in a listed conduit or tubing. Conduit or tubing shall utilize a nonmetallic bushing or adapter at the point the cable enters the raceway. Metal conduit and tubings and metal outlet boxes shall be grounded.
 
#14 ·
Hey Atlantic
I must of had 1 of your ex guys helping me on a job cause when I told him I duct stretcher in my truck he said (Yeah real funny) so I let him bang on that thing while I ate my lunch. Being the nice guy I am ( or maybe it was the cursing he was doing) I got it for him showed him how to use it.
 
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