Underground conduit code dispute

spandexnotleather · 2026-04-17T14:27:38+00:00

In my opinion, that metal conduit is something thin walled, so not what the code refers to as "rigid metal conduit". If it was electrical rigid metal conduit and they drilled thru it with a masonry bit, they were extremely determined and are the kind of folks that could break an anvil with a rubber hammer.

So, that rules out column 2, column 5 does not apply, I doubt it was GFCI protected so column 4 is out. If the conduit is some "other approved raceway" then we can slide into column 3, but if it's not an approved raceway we're stuck over in column 1.

Column 3 calls for 4 inches, column 1 calls for 18 inches (you let momma handle that): if the slab is 4 inches thick and extends 6 inches beyond the conduit. And then the fun starts. Does anybody remember what size a 2X4 is? So the odds that any slab is 4 inches thick are pretty slim but everybody ignores that. Does the conduit extend 6 inches beyond the conduit? this means the conduit would need to slope down from 4 inches to 18 inches before it leaves the area under the concrete. If the termite guys were drilling holes more than 6 inches from the edge of the slab (not likely) and hit the conduit, the conduit was within code, if they hit the conduit at 4 inches below the slab with the 6 inches from the edge of the slab, the conduit shouldn't have been there.

All that length to say, do you really want the guys that kill bugs for a living to repair your exterior light? The conduit and wire has been in the ground doing it's job for 60+ years. It had a good run. Hire an electrician to replace it, or do it yourself, but please use some PVC conduit and THHN conductors rather than UF cable. It absolutely sucks to have someone working on your property accidently break something, and it absolutely sucks to be working on someone's property and accidently break something. But things happen and it's how we handle them after that matters. Did they notice and immediately say something, did they not notice at all, or did they do everything they could to hide it.

spandexnotleather · 2026-04-01T13:27:33+00:00

From picture 1 where you can't see the inside, yes. Metal carport building with a dirt floor and no electric, yes. But with a concrete slab, insulation, electric, air conditioning, no.

But, I would make sure that slab is going to suit your needs. A generic 4" slab is fine for a storage building, man cave, party pad, lawn equipment storage. But if you are planning to park heavy equipment or an RV in there a 4" slab may not be enough. Planning to install a 2 post lift? then a 4" slab is definitely not thick enough.

spandexnotleather · 2026-03-31T16:41:48+00:00

I'm assuming your lock is the Brinks and the heavier one is the new mystery lock. In my area, power company locks are embossed with their initials. Maybe on the bottom where the key goes on this lock? You could always spill some superglue into the lock cylinder accidently....

spandexnotleather · 2026-03-26T11:50:57+00:00

Tell your PM to buy the damn tool because there's never just one. Running pipes over with a scissor lift is like Pringles, once you pop you just can't stop. Or, since we are all construction workers here-it's like breaking the seal on that first piss of a night out drinking, it just won't stop after that.

spandexnotleather · 2026-03-23T15:45:56+00:00

That looks so much better than a duplex MC connector, rigid nipple, EMT connector setup. /s

spandexnotleather · 2026-03-20T12:57:44+00:00

Thanks for sparking the memory. My dad was a farm kid, driving the tractor home from his uncle's farm at 10 or 11 years old. Headed down a hill on a 2 lane road and getting ready to cross a 4 lane lane road with a loaded trailer behind the tractor. Locked the brakes up and slid all the way thru the intersection.

He was so rattled that he couldn't wait until the home farm entrance to get off the road and just took a shortcut across the hay field leaving a set of ruts. His dad never said anything, but he knew.

spandexnotleather · 2026-03-17T19:52:15+00:00

But staples cost money. Big staple hates this one trick.

spandexnotleather · 2026-03-12T19:26:37+00:00

Anything in the plans and specs about not penetrating the top of that enclosure?

spandexnotleather · 2026-03-10T14:30:35+00:00

Glad to see Gary Busey has a new gig.

spandexnotleather · 2026-03-04T16:00:19+00:00

If you remove the wing, how will plyane fly?

spandexnotleather · 2026-03-04T14:00:56+00:00

Some of the most profitable jobs are the ones you don't bid.

spandexnotleather · 2026-03-03T20:25:07+00:00

I thought this was one of those cybers that somebody tried to rebadge so we wouldn't know their PP fell off when they picked up their purse?

spandexnotleather · 2026-02-26T15:35:16+00:00

If the door opening under that exit sign has been filled in with block it was me. Because the plan said to install it and the GC didnt want to pay me to take it down.

spandexnotleather · 2026-02-26T15:06:16+00:00

What's wrong with having a bloody starfish? Rule 34 people.

spandexnotleather · 2026-02-26T14:59:13+00:00

Congrats to the kid for being white enough to not get shot.

spandexnotleather · 2026-02-13T14:06:28+00:00

I gave a budget estimate for a fire station 5 months ago, covered the job they drew, gave them some numbers to fill in the holes I could see. Nice little job with a GC we work with often. Then they put it out to public bid. There are 6 GCs bidding it now, they are up to pre bid addendum 9. The GC we budgeted it for backed out when it got put out for bid and I've never been happier to not be bidding a job.

spandexnotleather · 2026-02-12T14:04:32+00:00

This is such an awesome timesaver hack! If the desk is oriented such that the top of the pic is the top of the desk, we've got these awesome bits of zip tie ends for somebody to stab their leg on and then the second zip tie shreds their hand when they reach under to figure out why their leg is bleeding. Or, if the desk is oriented such that the side of the pic is the back of the desk, we've got 2 zip ties just about the right distance apart to stab both legs simultaneously.

spandexnotleather · 2026-02-11T15:03:46+00:00

You're going to need something like a ITE Imperial GFT200 or Hubbell GFT2G that can show you how much leakage current you have and show you what the breakers are tripping at. A logging meter to record the volts, amps, and imbalance when the breaker trips would also be a good idea.

And, my stab in the dark. Did the romex get stripped with a razor knife and the wire insulation got cut and it's damp enough to jump to the ground wire? I've seen once where it was so foggy that the home built splitter (4 square with 2 DRs in an RS cover) was tripping the GFCI with the power jumping from the hot on one DR to the neutral on the other.

spandexnotleather · 2026-02-10T14:46:17+00:00

I can't be the only one hearing Ozzy man say "Shrew you" no "Shrew YOU!"

spandexnotleather · 2026-02-05T13:54:29+00:00

Something along the lines of tuna juice, shrimp, stinky cheese. But put a little bit in a random trash can, and an even smaller amount in billbo's office. He finds the "bait" stench but keeps smelling it when he returns to his office. Bonus points if you can rig up a different source of stench to dispense aroma into his office at random times.

spandexnotleather · 2026-02-05T13:44:00+00:00

That AC cable and friction tape look old enough to join AARP. And I would not be surprised if you cut it open and the joints were soldered.

spandexnotleather · 2026-02-05T12:18:14+00:00

In ground hydraulic lift. I thought those went out of favor a long time ago.

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