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Code Q&A: Defining a Metal Wireway

Sept. 20, 2018

How the NEC Defines a Metal Wireway

Q. What is the NEC definition of a metal wireway?

See the answer below.

This answer is based on the 2017 NEC.

A. As noted in Sec. 376.2 of the 2017 NEC, a metal wireway is defined as a sheet metal trough with hinged or removable covers for housing and protecting electric conductors and cable, and in which conductors are placed after the raceway has been installed.

Both metal wireways and nonmetallic wireways are often incorrectly called “troughs,” “auxiliary gutters,” “auxiliary wireways,” or “gutters” in the field. Wireways and auxiliary gutters are similar in design, but one of the main differences is in the application. A wireway is a raceway (see definition in Art. 100) while an auxiliary gutter [Art. 366] is a supplemental enclosure for wiring and isn’t considered a raceway.

These materials are provided to us by Mike Holt Enterprises in Leesburg, Fla. To view Code training materials offered by this company, visit www.mikeholt.com/code.

About the Author

Mike Holt

Mike Holt is the owner of Mike Holt Enterprises (www.MikeHolt.com), one of the largest electrical publishers in the United States. He earned a master's degree in the Business Administration Program (MBA) from the University of Miami. He earned his reputation as a National Electrical Code (NEC) expert by working his way up through the electrical trade. Formally a construction editor for two different trade publications, Mike started his career as an apprentice electrician and eventually became a master electrician, an electrical inspector, a contractor, and an educator. Mike has taught more than 1,000 classes on 30 different electrical-related subjects — ranging from alarm installations to exam preparation and voltage drop calculations. He continues to produce seminars, videos, books, and online training for the trade as well as contribute monthly Code content to EC&M magazine.