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Can I put the electrical wiring in concrete?

By Bagofconcrete
Page last updated: 09/03/2022 | Next review date: 09/03/2024
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The article aims to answer the question “Can I put the electrical wiring in concrete?”. It will also explain how you can run electrical wires on concrete walls. 

Can I put the electrical wiring in concrete?

Yes, you put the electrical wiring in concrete, but it is not recommended. If that electrical wire ever fails, it would be a headache to chop it out of the concrete and replace it with a new one. 

It is preferable to lay conduit in the concrete and then thread the electrical cable through the conduit so that if the cable ever fails or gets damaged, all that needs to be done to replace it is to attach the new cable to the end of the old cable and pull the old cable out while the new cable is threaded through the conduit. 

There’s nothing need for pounding or hacking. For “future-proofing,” I recommend a conduit large enough to accommodate any more electrical wires that may be installed in the future (which would need the installation of additional pull strings).

How to run electrical wire through concrete walls?

To run electrical wires through concrete walls:

  • Make sure the paths of your electrical conduit runs and the locations of your electrical boxes are clearly marked in accordance with your plans. A tape measure is essential for erring on the side of caution.
  • The electrical engineer on your design team has previously checked to make sure that the placement of your components is in line with the code.
  • Their work has been evaluated and authorized by the local body responsible for ensuring that all building designs that get a building permit adhere to all applicable codes. In order to get your final approval, you need to prove that you can precisely reproduce the dimensions on your drawings in the actual world.
  • Fill up the form with your electrical tubing. Try it out. You’ll need to leave 12″ of conduit hanging outside the form to link it to the rest of the building’s wiring.
  • The conduit may be fastened to the rebar wall within the concrete wall form using a set of side-cutting pliers and some tie wire (these will also let you cut the wire without an additional tool).
  • About every four feet along the conduit, connect the horizontal and vertical bars. When the concrete is poured on top of the tie, it won’t come undone.
  • After tying the nylon rope to a lengthy piece of tie wire, feed it into the conduit. It may not be required to thread the conduit if the twine is already inside.
  • Think about breaking the job up into smaller chunks and connecting the conduit pieces as you go. This yarn will be used to thread the electrical wire through the conduit once the wall has been poured.
  • When installing electrical boxes within a concrete wall form, make sure their openings are flush with the form’s face. Nail the cartons down to the floor.
  • In a typical electrical box, you’ll discover a variety of outlets, switches, connections, and control panels (to name a few styles). Nylon rope in the conduit may be kept from reentering the conduit during the pour by taping it to the mouth of the box.
  • Due to the wide variety of building regulations that might apply to your structure, it is crucial that you pay close attention to the placement dimensions on your plans. It’s possible that there’ll be strict requirements for the exact placement of electrical outlets.
  • It is imperative that you stick to the locations specified in the designs that have been inspected and authorized by the relevant municipal authorities.
  • Ask for feedback. As soon as the building inspector has granted permission, the concrete may be poured.
  • After the concrete has been set and the forms have been removed, you may start wiring in the lights, outlets, and outlets.

How to run electrical cables through concrete walls?

To run electrical cables through concrete walls: 

  • A professional in audiovisual systems may be useful for this endeavour. To keep the distance between the point of use and the service connection to a minimum, audiovisual cables should be routed as far away from electrical outlets as possible.
  • A materials list has to include distances travelled. You’ll need more wire than just the absolute minimum to make the connection. It may take some extra time to establish communication and clear any obstacles that may arise.
  • A good rule of thumb when buying cable is to get ten to fifteen per cent more than you need. You’ll also need nail plates for the studs into which you’ll be drilling as well as wall plates, connectors, low-voltage electrical boxes, and wire.
  • Use a drill and spade bit to create holes in the studs and other frame components for the cables. To run the wires, a hole should be drilled through the centre of each stud, however, it shouldn’t be wider than 40% of the stud itself.
  • Nail plates should be attached to the front of each hole to shield the wires from drywall fasteners.
  • A wire might be sucked into the openings. If you need to run wires through the wall plates and to a different floor, you may do it with the help of a fish tape or a fish stick.
  • Leave a little bit of slack at both ends of the cable, just in case. Staple or clamp the cables down at intervals of 4-1/2 inches. Put the clamps about a foot away from each of the connectors.

How to install an electrical box in a concrete block?

To install an electrical box in concrete block:

  • Draw a plan for the placement of your electrical conduit lines and electrical boxes, then mark their paths and locations. A tape measure is essential for erring on the side of caution.
  • The electrical engineer on your design team has already double-checked the proposed placements of all of your fixtures to verify that they adhere to all applicable regulations.
  • The subsequent step is for the local authority that issues construction permits to verify that the plans are in compliance with the regulations.
  • In order to succeed on the last test, you’ll need to be able to match the actual proportions to your ideas as nearly as possible.
  • The form should be followed while installing the electrical conduit. Leave no less than 12 inches of the conduit outside the form to allow for future connection to the building’s electrical system.
  • Finally, fasten the conduit to the form using side-cutting pliers and wire tie wire (these will also let you cut the wire without an additional tool). After doing so, you should attempt to tie a knot at each intersection of the horizontal and vertical bars, which occur every 4 feet down the conduit.
  • Doing so will provide you with a knot that won’t give when subjected to the pressure of the concrete.
  • Get the end of your nylon rope attached to a long tie wire and feed it through the conduit. Sometimes it isn’t even required to thread the conduit since the yarn is already within.
  • The best way to join conduit sections as you thread them is using duct tape. When you pour the wall, the actual electrical wire will be pulled through the conduit using this yarn.
  • When installing electrical boxes within a concrete wall form, make sure the opening is flush with the form’s face. Nail the containers to the wall.
  • A typical electrical box has several outlets, switches, and connectors as well as a control panel (to name a few styles). After you’ve attached the conduit to the box, tape the nylon thread within the box opening to keep it from unravelling and returning to the conduit during the pour.
  • Keep in mind that the placement of components on the designs may be impacted by local, state, and federal building codes. They could provide exact dimensions for the placement of electrical boxes.
  • Keeping everything in compliance with the law requires sticking to the details outlined in your blueprints. Specifically, stick to the indicated locations.
  • Put in a request for a checkup. As soon as the building inspector gives the go-ahead, the concrete may be poured.
  • Once the concrete is dry and the forms have been removed, the electrician can come in and install the appropriate switches, outlets, connections, and other electrical components.

Conclusion

Cement blocks are the typical material for basement walls. When finishing a basement or installing an electrical box on the wall’s surface, the wire must be routed through a metal tube called a conduit to protect it from moisture and prevent it from shorting out. 

Conduit is often sold in erect lengths. The conduit is then shaped by bending to become the path from one electrical box or power source to another. Using conduit straps and masonry screws, the conduit is surface-mounted into the concrete.

Frequently asked questions (FAQS): Can I put the electrical wiring in concrete?

Can I put the electrical wiring in concrete?

Yes, you put the electrical wiring in concrete, but it is not recommended. If that electrical wire ever fails, it would be a headache to chop it out of the concrete and replace it with a new one. 

It is preferable to lay conduit in the concrete and then thread the electrical cable through the conduit so that if the cable ever fails or gets damaged, all that needs to be done to replace it is to attach the new cable to the end of the old cable and pull the old cable out while the new cable is threaded through the conduit. 

Bibliography

Cassandra Tribe. How to Install Electrical in Concrete Walls. Home steady. Retrieved from: https://homesteady.com/12241556/how-to-install-electrical-in-concrete-walls