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Speaker 3: What up, everybody? Welcome to another episode of Mastering the neec.
My name is Paul Abernathy and I'm your host today
for this episode, and we're going to be talking about
a topic that I have talked about before. Obviously, I've
put stuff out on TikTok and other platforms. So this
is not the first that I will be venturing into
a specific topic area. But again it bears the need
for additional discussion because again I am seeing stuff on
social media. I'm seeing stuff all over the place, and
there seems to still be some confusion. Now you're probably saying,
what are you talking about. Well, before I get into
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All right, let's talk about it today a little bit.
Oh I should also mention also mention if you listen
to this and you're still in twenty twenty four, that
early in twenty twenty five, we have a Racewayfel webinar.
That's the first of multiple webinars we're going to have
next year. It's free. You just have to go to
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Make sure you register for your free account on our
website because you will have to do that in order
to register and join us for the free webinar. We'd
love to have you there, okay, And I would tell
you the date of that webinar, but I don't know
the date right now. I got to go look. Let
me go look real quick, because I know somebody's going
to say, hey, Paul, you're talking about this damn webinar.
What's the date of this webinar? So I mean, okay,
let me go do that for you. I'll save you
the trouble. So you go to our website, click on
a webinar and you will see that it is January fourth,
So it's coming up pretty quickly on a Saturday. We'll
be having it from ten am to noon. It's two hours,
and it'll be on our Coffee Hour with Paul Platform.
So again, raceway Field calculations, how to do them like
a pro, and you can register. Just go click on
the link the title over on our website and you
can register. Ok All right, now let's get into today's topic.
So what are we talking about? Paul'sman leading you up
to it. What are we talking about? Okay, today's topic
is going to be revisiting the topic of securing EMT
between enclosures, between boxes, between load centers, between whatever. Okay,
you're terminating your EMT at boxes and you're like, okay,
it's less than three feet and you I have people
out there saying you still got to put a strap
on it. And so I got to revisit this because
I'm seeing all over social media people talking about it
improperly and not using some common sense when it comes
to the approach here of this. So what I want
to do is try to use my method of conveying
a mental picture to you read the code and try
to explain what's going on here and so to that
anybody that listens can understand it and the simple nuances
of what we're trying to do here at this rule. Okay,
so let's talk about it. So let me set the stage.
I've got a box A on the left, and I
have a box B on the right, and I have
EMT with fittings connected between box A in box B.
The overall length from box A two box B is
only third inches. Okay, so the EMT itself would be
less than thirty because you got the fittings, but they
pretty much go all the way up in there. So
let's say the overall length is going to be thirty
inches between box to box. Okay, keep it simple, so
that we know it is less than three feet. Okay,
there's a reason for that, so just go with me.
So I have box A on the left, I have
Box B on the right, and connecting them two together
is a thirty inches of EMT and associated EMT fittings
on each end. Obviously of the EMT that is going
to be connected to box A with a locknut and
then Box B with a locknut. Okay, I'm just trying
to keep it simple. We're not going to talk about
the conductors in it. We're not going to talk about Oh,
you didn't mention anything about a bushing three hundred dot
four G for the fitting it. No, I'm not, because
the attention span of most people on these social media
platforms is zero, and so if I over stimulate you
based on a podcast, and I've already lost your ass.
So let's just keep it simple. Box A on the left,
box B on the right, there's a piece of MT
between it with a fitting on each end of the
MT and the EMT set screws on the actual fittings
are connected in so it's secured, and then the fitting
has a locknut and it is secured to box A.
And on the other side, it's the fitting is mechanically
connected to the tubing and the fitting is connected to
box B with a locknut. Are we pretty clear? Okay?
Can't make it any simpler than that, right, So the
distance between the two boxes is thirty inches. Okay, So
there is this faction I don't know if I should
say faction. They get shot down every time they try
to bring this thing up, and they got shot down again,
but they don't stop from going on places like social
media and causing people to question things because they dig
into the semantics of the wording. And yet they lack
the ability to use a little common sense here. So
I'm gonna do that for you. I'm going to bring
common sense to people who listen to the podcast. All right,
So first thing I want you to do, if you
have your codebook, if you don't pause this podcast and
grab your codebook. I am in the twenty twenty three
edition of the nec SO, but really doesn't matter what edition,
and three fifty eight dot thirty. But let's say we're
gonna use we're gonna do everything today off of the
twenty twenty three edition of the the NEC. Okay, so
let's go to three fifty eight dot thirty That is
securing and supporting. It says EMT shall be installed as
a complete system in accordance with three hundred dot eighteen.
So that means before you pull any conductors in, you
need to make sure that your system is a complete
So in this case, box A to box B, the
fittings are on the tubeing, the set screws are set
or if it was outside, the compression fitting is set,
and it's mechanically connected to the box. So it's a
complete system from box to box. It's complete, and all
this left is to pull the conductors in it, right,
So that's what's done now, it says, and the EMT is.
It says it shall be securely fastened, in place and
supported in accordance with three fifty eight thirty A and B. Okay,
another little tip, folks, When you see and not or,
then it means you got to meet this and you
got to meet that, okay, Whereas or means you meet
this or you meet that. Okay, there's an end in there.
So you got to meet them both if applicable. Okay,
all right, so let's look at A A says securely fastened.
It says EMT shall be securely fastened in place in
accordance with the following. Okay, so it's the EMT that
has to be fastened in place. A number one says
it needs to be fastened in place. Securely fastened in
place at intervals not exceeding ten feet makes sense. Okay,
you have ten foot stick EMT. You got it connected
into a fitting, it's connected to the box, it's securely fastened.
I can go up to ten feet okay in that scenario. Okay, Now,
what if I have the box, the junction box, the
device box, the cabinet, conduit body, or other tubing termination
in play like we do in ours. We have box A,
we have box B. They're thirty inches apart. Okay. It
says EMT again shall be securely fastened in place within
three feet of each outlet, box, junction device box, cabinet,
conduit body, or other tubing termination. Now it does not
say here that that has to be a strap. That
doesn't say that, Hey, dude, you gotta go slap some
kindor funder it and put one of those kind door
straps on. It doesn't say any of that. Hey, you
gotta go get a one whole strap, you gotta get
a two hole strap. You can secure it in any
of the listed methods. Okay, that that would be okay
for secure me. But look, but looks, look a little
common sense here. Look at our drawing or our our scenario.
Box A is only thirty inches away from box B.
The EMT is securely fastened in the fitting with a
set screw or compression, depending on where it's located, so
they're together. Then the fitting is mechanically connected using a
locknut to box A and on the other end two
box B. Right, y'all with me? Okay, so lock knucking,
lock knucked, lock knucking, everybody, I made up a new
word called lock knucking. It is probably going to get
banned on most social media platforms because we just don't
know what the definition of lock knucking is. Anyway, locknuts
mechanically done. So the next question, people say, well, what
makes that secure? Well, most all of us are familiar
with three fourteen dot twenty three c right, which says
that mounting in finished surfaces it says an enclosure mounted
in a finished surface shall be rigidly secured there too
by clamps, anchors, or fittings identified for the application. So,
if it's structurally mounted, it says an enclosure supported from
a structural member or from grades shall be rigidly supported.
And it gives you methods whether its snails, screws, or braces.
Surface mounting. It says again all this under three fourteen
dot twenty three. It says an enclosure mounted on a
building or other structures shall be rigidly and securely fastened
in place. Okay, all right, So those boxes, whatever flavor
of mounting you want, they are securely and rigidly fastened
in place. Okay. They're not going anywhere. Okay, that's that's
the point I'm trying to make here. They're not going
and the code stipulates that they don't go anywhere. Okay,
all right. That takes us back to the concept here.
So it says that it has to be the EMT
has to be securely fastened in place within three feet
of each outlet box, junction box, device, box, cabinet, conduit, body,
or other tubing termination. I am in three fifty eight
thirty a folks, you do not need any additional securement
for a e m T that spans thirty inches in
the middle of between two boxes, because that EMT is
securely fastened to that fitting which is locknutted to a
box that is required to be securely fastened that fitting
in many cases, also in the NEEC, the fittings are
a means of securement. Okay, and so you're able to
go from there, you know, like with whips, you know,
with MC consider the connector at the box. You can
have a whip and go up to six feet Okay,
it's secured at the box. Okay, but not going down
that rabbit hole. Let's stick into what the topic is here.
There is no way in anybody's mind unless they're just
reaching for the stars and just missing it. Box a
with a fitting connected to it with the with the
locknut that's secured to the tubing, whether it's set or compression,
goes only thirty inches into another fitting, which is securely
fastened to the fitting, which is the fitting is securely
fastened to the box that is rigidly secure. It's not
going anywhere. So then the guys go The guy goes, well,
I'm just trying to deliterally the wording of the code. No,
it's not. You're not reading it right. I'm at box A.
I'm at box A. Ask yourself the question. I'm at
box A. Is my EMT okay? Is my EMT securely
fastened in place within three feet? Hell? Yeah, it is,
Because if I go from box A to box B,
it's going into a fitting that has a set screw
of compression, in a fitting that's mechanically connected to a
box that's required to also be securely rigid. It's not
going anywhere it meets the intent. Is that EMT secured
within three feet? Absolutely it is. It's into a fitting
with a set screw or compression, and it's on a
locknut that's holding it against a securely fastened box. It
is secured. That EMT is secured thanks to that set screwed,
thanks to that compression, thanks to that fitting, thanks to
that locknut done. What purpose would anybody out there in
their right mind read into this thinking, well, I need
to put a strap in the middle at fifteen inches
because I need to have that fastened securement within three feet.
What's any difference between that and putting the fitting on
the tubing, mechanically connecting it together with set screw or compression,
and then mechanically connected to a rigidly mounted box with
a locknut. What's the difference? There is no difference. It's
still within three feet. That strap in the middle is
Pointless's a waste of money. If it makes you feel good,
makes you feel warm and tingly inside, then you put
all the damn straps you want to put on. Hell,
put six up on there. I don't care, but it
doesn't make sense because it is totally unnecessary. What do
you actually think is going to happen to that? Emt really?
What do you think it's gonna happen to it? Absolutely nothing? Okay,
So again I keep seeing this, I keep seeing people
talk about it, and you know, I look at it
and I can't help but laugh at anybody that would
think that if I have two boxes thirty inches apart,
eighteen inches apart, six inches apart, twelve inches apart, thirty
four inches apart, it just boggles my mind that somebody
would want to put an additional strap in there because
they think that that's going to do any good. Well,
it doesn't hurt, now, it doesn't hurt. If you want
to do it, go for it. I don't care if
you're saying, well, I'm going above code, you know, I
don't think that's above code. That is just the fact
that you just don't know how to read the code
and you don't know how to use common sense. But
if you want to put it in there, knock yourself out,
go for it. But it's not required because that EMT
is securely fastened within three feet. It is. It's in
the fitting that's mechanically connected with a locknut to a
box that's required to be rigidly secure. It's not going
anywhere it meets. It meets the rule. And so from
one from box A to box B, it's within three
feet because box B is securely rigid and it has
the EMT in the fitting. The EMT is mechanically connected
to the fitting with a set screw or mechanic or compression.
And then if you go from B to A, it's
exactly the same thing on the other end, both of
which are securing that EMT to the fitting ultimately to
the box, so it is secure. Putting a strap in
the middle of that run that thirty inches is just
a sheer waste of money. Almost as much of a
waste of money as putting a insulating bushing on a
ser clamp fitting when it's not necessary because that is
not a raceway. But you want to spend that two
dollars a ninety eight cent to do that. It makes
you feel good, you do, you boo. But this is
a good example. And so this is for everybody out
there that says, no, man's thirty thirty inches between boxes.
You've put EMT between it. Oh man, I've got to uh,
I got to put a strap on that in the
middle of it. Dude, you do that if you think
you have to. But just to ask your question, if
I'm at box A, is that EMT secured to the
box A? Absolutely it is. Is it also secured through
the fitting in the set screw or compression and two
box b? Absolutely it is. Is all of this being
done within three feet? Absolutely it is? Dude, It's secure.
Move on, all right? All right, anyway, that's all I
want to talk about today's episode. That was that I
thought was this interesting. It's like, people just let that
keep going and I'm like, really, you're really stretching that far,
You're really reading something that's not there. But it seems
like they are all right. Folks. Thanks for joining me
on this episode of Mastering the NEC. Hopefully you subscribe
to the podcast. You get our free mobile app over
on our website fasttracksystem dot com. It's free, doesn't cost
you anything. We won't put any bloatwear on your phone.
I promise you that, and uh we'll catch you on
an upcoming episode of Mastering the NEC. Till next time,
Stay safe, God bless.
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