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Thursday, May 4, 2023

Question:

Hello CQD.  First, I would like to thank you for the service that you provide to all the electrically inquisitive minds out there, it is well appreciated. My question is in regard to supporting conduit bodies and has two parts.

  1. I believe that the NEC® requires all conduits entering a conduit body to be supported within 3' of entry. So, in the case of a T-style conduit body, would all 3 conduits/entries require support? 

     

  2. Also, my interpretation of Section 314.23(E) Exception is that in the case of a conduit that is smaller than the conduit body upon entry (i.e., 1" conduit body being immediately reduced to a 3/4"), then the ¾” conduit is no longer allowed to support the conduit body and now the conduit body itself must be supported. Is that correct?
Thank you for shedding light on these questions. Regards, Steve Reasons
A

Answer:

Hi Steve, glad to hear you are enjoying the CQD.

To answer the first question: Section 314.23(E) permits an enclosure/conduit body (with no device or luminaires) to be supported by two (2) or more conduits threaded into the enclosure/conduit body hub and supported within 3ft of the enclosure/conduit body. Technically, this means only two (2) of the conduits would need to be secured within 3ft to provide support of the enclosure/conduit body. However, for Rigid Metallic Conduit, Section 344.30(A)(1) requires the conduit to be supported within 3ft of a conduit body, so you would still need to have a support on all three (3) conduits.

To answer the second question, regarding the Exception to Section 314.23(E). Section 314.23(E) provides rules for the support of any enclosure covered by the scope of Article 314. The Exception is specific to Conduit Bodies, and where Section 314.23(E) requires at least two (2) conduits threaded into an enclosure for support, the Exception permits a conduit body type enclosure to be supported by one (1) conduit/entry if the type of wiring method used is the same size as the conduit body and one of the five (5) listed in the exception: IMC, RMC, PVC, RTRC, or EMT.  

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CHARLIE TROUT: Charles M. Trout, better known as Charlie, was a nationally known NEC® expert and author. He served on several NEC® technical committees and is past chairman of CMP-12. In 2006 Charlie was awarded the prestigious Coggeshall Award for outstanding contributions to the electrical contracting industry, codes and standards development, and technical training. Even though Charlie passed away in October of 2015, his work continues in spirit. NECA continues to maintain this question forum for its many subscribers in memory and recognition of all his significant contributions to making the NEC what it is today.

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