Paranoid ?

[Ellement]

I?m concerned with some clients who have been upgrading light fixtures in older buildings that may not have wiring rated at 90 c. I would like to know how to tell if the older wire is up to today?s code. We have done a lot of renovations to these buildings and are concerned about some of the wiring that hasn't been upgraded.

1- Is knob & tube rated 75 or 90 deg. C. Can light fixtures that states a 90 c rating be installed here?
2- I see old black jacket 14/2 with no bare bonding wire, paper lined, and no markings on the jacket at all over a 5 m length. Did the print wear off? What is the temp rating on this wire?
3- How is it possible to tell if the wire in the ceiling hex box is rated at 90c? Is there a ref. to the year the code made it mandatory to use 90c?
4- What do you do if you suspect a less that 90 c rating? Can we only install fixtures that are not rated at 90 c (any type of fixture that will not transfer heat into the light box, track lights or suspended fixtures)?

How far does the liability go?
Just being paranoid...?

[electric-ed]

1- Is knob & tube rated 75 or 90 deg. C. Can light fixtures that states a 90 c rating be installed here?

Probably never had a rating, and likely 60 deg C or less.

2- I see old black jacket 14/2 with no bare bonding wire, paper lined, and no markings on the jacket at all over a 5 m length. Did the print wear off? What is the temp rating on this wire?

Very likely 60 deg C.

3- How is it possible to tell if the wire in the ceiling hex box is rated at 90c? Is there a ref. to the year the code made it mandatory to use 90c?

The 90 deg C requirement was not yet in force in 1966. I believe it came in between 1966 and 1975.

4- What do you do if you suspect a less that 90 c rating? Can we only install fixtures that are not rated at 90 c (any type of fixture that will not transfer heat into the light box, track lights or suspended fixtures)?

Sounds like a good plan, from a liability aspect.

Ed