How To Run Romex In Attic

Plastic boxes and flexible nonmetallic cable commonly called romex put electrical wiring projects within the skill range of every dedicated diyer.

How to run romex in attic.

As i m doing some rewiring and have a large amount of leftover nm romex cable i was wondering if i can run that just sitting on top of and secured to the joists in the attic like the current armored cable is. Attics with permanent access stairs ladder. All other attics need protection within 6 feet of the attic opening and this is the typical situation. Climb through the attic access using a ladder if necessary and look into the attic space.

Ultimately for type nm romex this is directly referenced in the 2011 nec 334 23 but only points you to comply with 320 23 type ac as does 330 23 type mc. A pull down attic ladder does not count. The simple way to protect the cables is to run 1x2 or larger wood guard strips on both sides of the cable as shown in the diagram below. Running romex in the attic no problem pulling the wires or installing the new circuits but i have some questions once i get it into the attic.

With a flashlight examine the attic and locate the path that you will use to run the wire between the two locations. You must protect all cables running perpendicular and atop the joists. In this article we ll show you some house wiring basics how to position outlet and switch boxes and run the electrical cable between them. The national electrical code which is the basis for all local building codes has specific regulations for installing electrical wires so that they are protected from damage.

Familiarize yourself with the footing situation. A favorite target of electrical inspectors is the improper use of non metallic cable nm in exposed locations such as basement foundation walls or along the face of studs and joists in unfinished framed spaces.