Required support for wiring in walls?

leonsphinx · Feb 19, 2007

I'm finishing a basement and have used 2x3 studs around the exterior room walls. I've got a half inch gap between the stud walls and the concrete basement walls... is it okay to run NM electrical lines in this gap (to avoid drilling holes in the studs and make routing them easier)? I'm sure I still need to staple the wires every 4 feet or so and it will be awkward to do so for the horizontal runs but is there any general rule against doing this?

Thanks..

Stubbie · Feb 19, 2007

Leon

If this is your preference then tapcon some scrap 2x3 to the concrete wall inbetween studs at 4 feet intervals or there abouts. Staple your nm to the scrap. You must fasten it every 4 or 4 1/2 feet to satisfy most inspectors.
Personnally I would just drill the center of the studs and put a metal nail plate on the face of each stud where the cable passes through. One of these.......

Stubbie

RobertWilber · Feb 21, 2007

Perfectly OK to run behind the stud wall.
NEC 334.30 - Fasten every four and a half feet and within 12 inches of boxes. If you are running behind the studs, it is acceptable to use cable ties to secure the cable to the back of the stud.

Brik · Feb 21, 2007

What RobertWilber said.

Just to add - I did this with some coax and cat 5. I put a staple every so many feet, right at the back edge of the stud,
I then used wire ties to support the wire. Easy as pie.

leonsphinx · Feb 23, 2007

Thanks guys... I'll try it and see how my inspections go.

RippySkippy · Feb 23, 2007

You could always call your inspector and ask them...may save you a load of time up front. I do this all the time with my house building project...don't know, call and ask...most times I'm right, other times I was glad to have his input.

RIp

Required support for wiring in walls?

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