NEC issues - Garden Hose as conduit?
NEC issues - Garden Hose as conduit?
(OP)
Is it NEC-acceptable to use common garden hose as electrical conduit? Also, if anyone is a electrical inspector, and has access to good resources on commonly-made NEC violations, or even better, wiring practices that are dangerous and prone to starting fires, please link me up, Scotty!
Jim Goebel
Mid-West Forensics, Inc.
Jim Goebel
Mid-West Forensics, Inc.






RE: NEC issues - Garden Hose as conduit?
RE: NEC issues - Garden Hose as conduit?
RE: NEC issues - Garden Hose as conduit?
Look at Violations Photo Forum..
I'm assuming the garden hose question was not a serious one.
RE: NEC issues - Garden Hose as conduit?
Section 310.13 identifies the conductor types permitted for general wiring and specifies they must be installed per a wiring method recognized in the rest of Chapter 3.
Of the raceway types recognized in Chapter 3 a garden hose could theoretically meet the requirements of Liquidtight Flexible Nonmetallic Conduit (LFNC) under sections 356.2(1) or (2). However, Section 356.6 states the LFNC must be “listed.” Here is where garden hose falls down for “general” wiring.
If the wiring were installed with the severe power limitations imposed on the circuit by either Article 725 or 727, garden hose may even be a superior raceway ;)
RE: NEC issues - Garden Hose as conduit?
A garden hose was not designed to hold wires.
RE: NEC issues - Garden Hose as conduit?
RE: NEC issues - Garden Hose as conduit?
Until it was made a general rule by the restructuring and direct introduction in the various specific Chapter 3 raceway Articles in the 2002 Edition, several classes of raceway, such as Flexible Metal Conduit (Art 348) or Flexible Metal Tubing (Art 360.6), were NOT required to be listed and many manufacturer's products weren't. Look at how many Chapter 3, Section 3xx.6 are "sidebarred" indicating it is a new requirement.
Several States have yet to adopt the 2002 Edition so, techically listing is not yet a requirement in those States.
For Class 2 or 3 wiring there's really no safety or technical reason garden hose couldn't be used as a raceway and, in fact, Art 725 wouldn't prohibit it - even in the 2005 Edition.
RE: NEC issues - Garden Hose as conduit?
Until it was made a general rule by the restructuring and direct introduction in the various specific Chapter 3 raceway Articles in the 2002 Edition, several classes of raceway, such as Flexible Metal Conduit (Art 348) or Flexible Metal Tubing (Art 360), were NOT required to be listed and many manufacturer's products weren't. Look at how many Chapter 3, Section 3xx.6 are "sidebarred" indicating it is a new requirement.
Several States have yet to adopt the 2002 Edition so, techically listing is not yet a requirement in those States.
For Class 2 or 3 wiring there's really no safety or technical reason garden hose couldn't be used as a raceway and, in fact, Art 725 wouldn't prohibit it - even in the 2005 Edition.
RE: NEC issues - Garden Hose as conduit?
1. Electrical Tape was used to connect hot and neutral contacts in pool house panel.
2. We observed an empty raceway above panel in main structure
3. Wires for lights were fed through holes poked in ceiling drywall.
4. Wires were sitting in wet environment – Condensation and watermarks were observed on ceiling drywall, and wires to feed incandescent bulbs ran directly over that part of the garage.
5. A subpanel should have been used with a main disconnect for garage service, and only one panel was found in fire remains, indicating that this precaution was not used.
6. A receptacle was attached to a shelving unit, with exposed feeder wire coming down from ceiling area.
I just started with my NEC experience, but how legit are these complaints?
RE: NEC issues - Garden Hose as conduit?
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