Les Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 Does anyone (Yankees) have any thoughts regarding electric roof heat cable. Surface mount type, typically at eaves and valley(s). In Michigan they are used to prevent water back-up from ice dams. My concerns and questions are: installed with gfci's?, effect on shingle warranty?, impact on home insurance?, life expectancy of cable?, could they be a fire hazard?, etc.. I'm kinda interested in opinions as well as anecdotal stories. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 I see 'em all the time and grudgingly comment on them working to reduce backup during ice dams. I ALWAYS comment on them being a potential hazard; I am aware of 2 major residential blazes that were directly attributed to deicing cables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted April 5, 2005 Report Share Posted April 5, 2005 Not required to be GFCI protected per Article 210.8 (B) see exceptions which refer to Article 426 of the NEC. NORM SAGE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted April 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2005 Norm, got any insight why no gfci protection? Thanks for the reference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Fabry Posted April 5, 2005 Report Share Posted April 5, 2005 They're butt ugly, a fire hazard and do a fair job of compensating for poor construction/insulation details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted April 6, 2005 Report Share Posted April 6, 2005 Les, I never have been able to figure out how the NEC code-making panel 2 (the panel which addresses article 210) comes up with that which they do. Sometimes I think it's like throwing darts in the dark. From reading past issues of the NEC the only reason I can think of is that the receptacle is not "readily accessible". I guess that means you won't be likely to plug into the unprotected receptacle with an extension cord to power a weed wacker or other similar equipment. Just a guess though. NORM SAGE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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