Richard Stanley Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 Texas SOP requires us to call refrigerant piping and electrical wiring in the return air chase. I under stand the reason - fire spread - but I cannot find it in a code. Anybody? Does NEC 300.22 apply to elelctrical? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian G Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 Aaarrrggh! I know that's in the IRC somewhere, I saw it last week in class. I just dug back and forth in the book and couldn't find it though. Damn big-a** book... I'll try again in a little while. Brian G. Frustrated Flipper [:-grumpy] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kibbel Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 Around here, wiring is permitted to pass through return air cavities. E3804.7 Air handling-stud cavity and joist spaces. Where wiring methods having a nonmetallic covering pass through stud cavities and joist spaces used for air handling, such wiring shall pass through such spaces perpendicular to the long dimension of the spaces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian G Posted January 22, 2006 Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 Brain cramp, disregard! I found what I was thinking of, but it's about gas piping (G2415.1), not wiring or refrigeration lines. [:-paperba Brian G. Still Code-fused From 3 Days of Heavy Exposure [:-boggled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Posted January 22, 2006 Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 In the 2003 IMC Section 602.2.1 Materials exposed within plenums. There is a list of items that cannot be installed in plenums (please note, a plenum is not a duct). However, under exceptions; 3) This section shall not apply to materials exposed within plenums in one- and two-family dwellings. The only area (that I could find) that mentions materials in ducts is; 601.3 Contamination prevention. Exhaust ducts under positive pressure, chimnys and vents shall not extend into or pass through ducts or plenums. Here's a question: Does anyone know the difference between a flexible air duct & a flexible air connector? Darren www.aboutthehouseinspections.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottpat Posted January 22, 2006 Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 Don't forget that the codes are not the answer for everything. Codes are the minimal standard, and not always the best standard. A return air chase should be clean and sealed, but it provides an easy access to the attic for anyone looking to install something. It is the favorite hiding place for alarm horns and the like. As for refrigerant lines in a return chase just think about the problems that could arise. The first that jumps out is a condensation problem and all of the water that could collect and start a breeding ground for mold. So the contractor insulates the lines with neoprene foam sleeves. Now we have introduced foam that produces toxic gases when it burns, into the return air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackJack Posted January 23, 2006 Report Share Posted January 23, 2006 I just wrote one up today. The TX SOP specifically says to report it. Download Attachment: Slide36.JPG 92.61 KB Looking up to the 2nd floor. Horiz. Gas Furnace in 2nd floor closet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul MacLean Posted January 23, 2006 Report Share Posted January 23, 2006 Originally posted by BlackJack Download Attachment: Slide36.JPG 92.61 KB Looking up to the 2nd floor. Horiz. Gas Furnace in 2nd floor closet. That return air chase doesn't appear to be sealed. It looks like return air is coming from through wall cavities and all kinds of places that might deliver who knows what. There are more problems than the gas piping and wiring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackJack Posted January 24, 2006 Report Share Posted January 24, 2006 I had the sewer vent in the narrative of the report, just didn't get it in the picture. The air return to the furnace has only the space between the floor joists, and who knows if the floor joist area is sealed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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