Water heater = wet location?


  #1  
Old 04-08-10, 06:00 AM
T
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 23
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Water heater = wet location?

In my basement, I need to connect a cable from the junction box on the ceiling (floor joist above) down to the electrical panel in the water heater. Would this be considered a wet location? I planned on using flexible mtallic conduit, but the picture on GE's website shows a liquidtight flexible metallic conduit. Maybe it just looks cooler and more modern, but is it required?

I would think this could possibly qualify as a "damp" location, but probably not a "wet" location.
 
  #2  
Old 04-08-10, 06:04 AM
S
Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Brethren, Mi
Posts: 1,564
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Not wet unless its leaking.
 
  #3  
Old 04-08-10, 06:05 AM
RHefferan's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 113
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by twcarlson
In my basement, I need to connect a cable from the junction box on the ceiling (floor joist above) down to the electrical panel in the water heater. Would this be considered a wet location? I planned on using flexible mtallic conduit, but the picture on GE's website shows a liquidtight flexible metallic conduit. Maybe it just looks cooler and more modern, but is it required?

I would think this could possibly qualify as a "damp" location, but probably not a "wet" location.
If you want to be certain, I'd check with your IHJ, but my interpretation is that it would be a dry location. The chances of there being significant enough leakage to make the area wet are remote enough to classify them as a very rare occurance.

Although liquidtight isn't really that much more expensive, so if you haven't purchased parts yet I'd go with liquidtight anyway. It does look cooler and more modern.
 
  #4  
Old 04-08-10, 06:24 AM
pcboss's Avatar
Forum Topic Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Maryland
Posts: 13,976
Received 194 Upvotes on 170 Posts
Here are the NEC definitions.

[SIZE=2][SIZE=2]
Location, Damp.
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=2]Locations protected from weather and
not subject to saturation with water or other liquids but
subject to moderate degrees of moisture. Examples of such
locations include partially protected locations under canopies,
marquees, roofed open porches, and like locations,
and interior locations subject to moderate degrees of moisture,
such as some basements, some barns, and some coldstorage
warehouses.

[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=2]
Location, Dry.
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=2]A location not normally subject to dampness
or wetness. A location classi[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=2]fi[/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=2][SIZE=2]ed as dry may be temporarily
subject to dampness or wetness, as in the case of a
building under construction.

[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=2]
Location, Wet.
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=2]Installations under ground or in concrete
slabs or masonry in direct contact with the earth; in locations
subject to saturation with water or other liquids, such
as vehicle washing areas; and in unprotected locations exposed

to weather.
[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
 
  #5  
Old 04-12-10, 08:06 AM
I
Forum Topic Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Near Lansing, Michigan
Posts: 9,785
Upvotes: 0
Received 45 Upvotes on 43 Posts
Originally Posted by twcarlson
I planned on using flexible mtallic conduit, but the picture on GE's website shows a liquidtight flexible metallic conduit.
It is a dry location. The conduit is required for physical protection of the wire, not a barrier from the potential leak. FMC would be okay.
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description:
Your question will be posted in: