MaintenanceGuy
In the Trades
I run the maintenance department for a pretty large organization. Several of our locations have been ordering new office furnature. Desks, cabinets, cubical walls, etc. This stuff is modular, snaps or bolts together in hundreds of configurations and we get the call to assemble this stuff.
Most of these are pretty extensive and they come pre-wired with power strips at each desk, outlets in cubical walls, etc. Once assembled, the wires get spliced in boxes that are already installed as part of the assembly. We usually have to provide 2 or 3 new circuits to the area to feed the new furnature circuits. We usually install a power pole from the drop ceiling to a cubical splice box.
My question is this: The wire size in this stuff is smaller than the NEC allows. usually one size smaller. I'm not really worried about there being a hazard. We all know the NEC has a pretty big factor of safety in wire ampacities. I'm just wondring where our responsibility ends. I'm not responsible to check the wire size inside a toaster, TV, or even a hardwired water heater that we install. Equipment manufacturers are not bound by the NEC. Is this the same. Is assembled-on-site office furniture not required to meet NEC standards? As far as I know all components used are UL listed but I'm pretty sure the assembly as a whole is not.
Most of these are pretty extensive and they come pre-wired with power strips at each desk, outlets in cubical walls, etc. Once assembled, the wires get spliced in boxes that are already installed as part of the assembly. We usually have to provide 2 or 3 new circuits to the area to feed the new furnature circuits. We usually install a power pole from the drop ceiling to a cubical splice box.
My question is this: The wire size in this stuff is smaller than the NEC allows. usually one size smaller. I'm not really worried about there being a hazard. We all know the NEC has a pretty big factor of safety in wire ampacities. I'm just wondring where our responsibility ends. I'm not responsible to check the wire size inside a toaster, TV, or even a hardwired water heater that we install. Equipment manufacturers are not bound by the NEC. Is this the same. Is assembled-on-site office furniture not required to meet NEC standards? As far as I know all components used are UL listed but I'm pretty sure the assembly as a whole is not.