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Circuit around or through an I-beam

09:15AM | 08/22/01

Member Since: 02/26/01
35 lifetime posts

Circuit around or through an I-beam

I need to put the refrigerator in my 1937 house on its own circuit. The refrigerator and kitchen wall sit above the left side of the garage and the breaker box is on the right wall of the garage. The garage ceiling/kitchen floor joists run left to right and the garage has a ceiling of drywall so my plan was to run the new wire between the joists (hidden above the drywall) from the box to the kitchen base plate. Here is the problem: there is a metal I-beam running from front to back of the garage upon which the joists rest and that breaks up my straight shot between the breaker box and kitchen floor plate. The question: should I: 1) make the run between the joists and drop down at the I-beam and go under it (exposing the wire for the short few inches it would be under the I-beam) (but this may not be code); or 2) simply run conduit or BX, below the joists, from the breaker box to the new outlet box.
Thanks for any help.

[Reposted from an original incorrect post to HVAC]

Christopher Sparks

05:39PM | 08/22/01

Member Since: 08/09/01
29 lifetime posts

If there is an I-beam supporting your joists (kitchen floor) this I-beam should be perpendicular to the floor joist.
I don't see why you should have to run it under your I-beam, keep your cable in the floor joist bay above the I-beam and poke a hole in the drywall just above the circuit breaker enclosure.
Be sure to put this refrigerator on a 115volt single receptacle to avoid have GFCI protection on it.

JamesPatrick

05:18AM | 08/23/01

Member Since: 02/26/01
35 lifetime posts

Christopher, thanks for the input. You are correct in that the beam runs perpendicular to the joists but they do not rest on top of the beam, they rest on the horizontal ledge. That is why running the new sheathed electrical cable through the joist bay is a problem, I run into the beam.

rpxlpx

05:47AM | 08/23/01

Member Since: 03/13/00
1675 lifetime posts

Drill a hole in the I beam?

Christopher Sparks

05:23PM | 08/23/01

Member Since: 08/09/01
29 lifetime posts

>>they rest on the horizontal ledge. <<

NOW I UNDERSTAND !!!!

Well now .... here where your priorities come in .... is "ease of installation" or "aesthetics" important to you ....

You could drill a hole in the I-beam, but that is going to take a lot of muscle and probably a few drill bits with LOTS of cutting oil. OR if the side wall is finished you could come down into the wood studded wall and then back up into the ceiling. To make the repair to the ceiling and walls as painless as possible I would cut as little drywall as possible and cut it from stud to stud + ¬æ" on both sides, that way you have some "rock" to screw back into the studs then all you need is joint compound and paint and "WAHLA" a job well done with no annoying wires or cables showing

[This message has been edited by Christopher Sparks (edited August 23, 2001).]

MarkV

07:04AM | 08/30/01

Member Since: 04/05/01
32 lifetime posts

If you do decide to drill through the I-beam, it is best to do so in the middle of the beam. This is where the beam's neutral axis is, so it will see the least amount of stress around the middle and the hole, which acts as a stress raiser, won't have the potential to cause failure that a hole drilled at the extremity would have. Do, however, drill as small a hole as possible, and consider getting a nylon grommet or bushing to protect the wire against mechanical damage.

Mark

JamesPatrick

07:26AM | 10/10/01

Member Since: 02/26/01
35 lifetime posts

Thanks to all who replied. I was prepare to tackle the job of drilling the I-beam. However, by a stroke of luck the county inspector who inspected the new breaker box gave me a temporary solution and offered an idea for a permanent solution that did not involve drilling through the I-beam, yet would pass inspection in the end. I was pleasantly surprised the inspector was so helpful but as he mentioned, he knows these houses in-and-out so why let someone re-invent the wheel and expend needless energy. My hat goes off to all inspectors who are personable while remaining professional.

ckrein

10:50AM | 02/03/07

Member Since: 02/02/07
1 lifetime posts

It its nice to see you found a solution to your problem. I am against that same wall...or beam six years later and will really apreciate yo sharing the solution to this problem.

Thank you in advance!