Hi Dan,
There doesn't seem to be much information about wiring chases which I find
amazing since they are not uncommon any more. I did read one article which
mentioned only fire blocking which is amusing really given that you have a
balloon style construction building as is mine with all those open runs.
Getting good insulation into that sort of construction should be relatively
easy, just block the bottom and blow it through from above, the main challenges
then would be to get the voids under and along side windows.
I discovered in this old house that some of those had been missed because the
installers didn't seem to understand balloon style construction. There were
windows where the bottom and top frame members run through between studs and
have one or both verticals between the horizontals thus forming more vertical
and closed compartments than you would expect in frame construction. Those were
missed.
I have seen chases deliberately built in on some of those "This Old House"
programmes but never really noticed or understood how or what they did.
I don't understand why there would be a bigger heat issue pulling three 14-2
cables through an inch tube than stapling them over each other then blanketing
them in insulation as is often found in ceilings and walls though.
----- Original Message -----
From: Dan Rossi
To: Blind Handyman List
Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 1:45 PM
Subject: [BlindHandyMan] insulation and wiring.
So I've been asking around on various web sites and various people about
putting a wire chase in my wall before having cellulose blown in.
Apparently, it is not code to pull Romex through any kind of conduit,
except in a few limited cases. It has to do with heat loading of the
wires. Individual, single conductors, are rated to 75 degrees C, but
Romex or multiconductor wires are only rated to 60 degrees C. So it seems
that I will have to run the wire chase, then pull a bunch of single
conductor wires through which I bet makes for some interesting times
making sure that you have the right set of wires connected to what you
expect to have them connected to.
--
Blue skies.
Dan Rossi
Carnegie Mellon University.
E-Mail: [email protected]
Tel: (412) 268-9081
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
