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Subject - wire install advice
cshowalter I'm about to run some new outlets in an older condo I own.
I'm working with an electrician who is willing to let me do
the circuit wiring and he'll look it all over when I'm finished
and then connect the circuits to my panel. I wanted to get some
ideas here first and then talk it over the install with him after.
I'm adding outlets in the baseboard where the 2 originals (now
removed) were. I have 3/4" thick plaster walls that run down
behind the baseboard to the subfloor. The finished floor is 1"
thick and 1" away from the plaster walls making a 1x1" channel
all around the room. My plan was to run the romex in this channel,
tacked to the subfloor. The 6 new boxes would be spiked to a 2x4
and installed like a fire stop in 6 places around the room - I'd
have to break the plaster out in these 6 sections behind the
baseboard and put sheet rock pieces in it's place after. I've
heard of electricians running romex like this in timber frame
homes, but since I have plaster walls and studs, is this a code
violation? I guess I'm looking for any possible code issues that
may come up with method of installation, and any other better
ideas. Thanks.
David Hyatt Not a code issue, but maybe a saftey issue. If I can picture where you want to run the cables when you install the base board you have to be careful not to nail into the wire.
Dave Nix Unless these cables are at least 1 1/4" behind the outer surface of the baseboard, you will have to add protection.

quote:
2002 NEC 300.4 Protection Against Physical Damage.
(B)(2)(E) Cables and Raceways Installed in Shallow Grooves. Cable- or raceway-type wiring methods installed in a groove, to be covered by wallboard, siding, paneling, carpeting, or similar finish, shall be protected by 1.6 mm (1/16 in.) thick steel plate, sleeve, or equivalent or by not less than 32 mm (1 1/4 in.) free space for the full length of the groove in which the cable or raceway is installed.
cshowalter Thanks David and Dave.
The top of the groove would be the bottom of the baseboard ~3/4" above the wire. The base board is 1x8 so just to clarify the picture, you'd have to nail down through 7.5" of baseboard to hit the wire. But, I understand the corner where one edge of the baseboard bottom meets the edge of the finished floor is an issued. I do plan on putting base shoe (.5"x.75") in around that corner and those nails are really the issue. They'd be going though the shoe, through the baseboard, through the plaster and into the studs, totally missing the wire, but across the top of it by about 1 1/8". Too close.

Would armored cable do the trick? NM would have worked better around the corners, but maybe I can just drill the corner studs to get the proper radius for armored. Any recommendations for cheap protection that can be covered up in this way?

Thanks again.