Quick Hits

EPISODE 3 — Exposed Runs and Framing Members, Attics & Bending Radius (320.15, 320.17, 320.23, 320.24)

Slide 1 — Hook "Today: how Type AC runs along surfaces, through framing, across attics, and how tightly it can actually bend."

Slide 2 — 320.15 & 320.17

• 320.15 Exposed work: exposed cable runs (except where 300.13(B) applies) must closely follow the building finish or running boards. Runs on the underside of joists are fine too, as long as they're supported at every joist and kept away from physical damage.

• 320.17: where installed through or parallel to framing members, Type AC follows the same physical-damage protection rules from Article 300 (300.6(A), (C), (D)) that you learned back in the Article 300 series — bored holes, roof decking, parallel-to-framing clearances.

Slide 3 — 320.23 & 320.24

• 320.23(A) Attics — cables run ACROSS the top of framing members (or across rafter/stud faces within 7 ft of the floor): need guard strips at least as tall as the cable, IF the attic space is accessible via permanently installed stairs/ladders. If it's NOT accessible that way, protection is only required within 6 ft of the nearest scuttle hole/attic entrance edge.

• 320.23(B) Cables run PARALLEL to framing member sides: no guard strips or running boards needed — just comply with 300.6(D).

• 320.24 Bending radius: bends can't damage the cable, and the inner edge radius of any bend can't be less than 5 TIMES the cable's diameter.

Slide 4 — Quiz + CTA Q: "The minimum bending radius for Type AC cable (inner edge of the bend) is how many times the cable's diameter?" A) 3 times B) 5 times C) 8 times D) 10 times

✅ Answer: B — 320.24: not less than 5 times the cable diameter.

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