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Front porch post
- Thread starter Rab2020
- Start date
steveray
SAWHORSE
No....Structurally it could work depending on the notch size as the IRC is abysmal on post stuff....But you would also need wet location wiring and it would have to be protected from damage...
What if it’s a 1/2” channel with metal conduit?
steveray
SAWHORSE
What is the post holding up?
Double header beam and rafters resting on top. Roof is shed style with ridge attached to side of house. The two middle posts would have wires to allow porch lights on the outside.
You might do research into a new post, or column. My first concern with your idea of cutting a channel is compromising the structural integrity of the post. Some wood posts have a hollow core,so that could be used for the proper wire.
jar546
Forum Coordinator
From a structural standpoint, I don't see any issues providing the post is properly sized to begin with the the vertical load imposed and any other loads if anything else is attached to it. As far as the electrical, this is what the NEC says in 300.4
(F) Cables and Raceways Installed in Shallow Grooves. Cable or
raceway-type wiring methods installed in a groove, to be
covered by wallboard, siding, paneling, carpeting, or similar
finish, shall be protected by 1.6 mm (1∕16 in.) thick steel plate,
sleeve, or equivalent or by not less than 32-mm (11∕4-in.) free
space for the full length of the groove in which the cable or
raceway is installed.
Exception No. 1: Steel plates, sleeves, or the equivalent shall not be
required to protect rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit,
rigid nonmetallic conduit, or electrical metallic tubing.
Exception No. 2: A listed and marked steel plate less than 1.6 mm
(1∕16 in.) thick that provides equal or better protection against nail or
screw penetration shall be permitted.
Or do you think it would be better to drill a hole directly in the center from the top, down to where Light fixture will be?
north star
Sawhorse
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2009
- Messages
- 4,596
% ~ %
Rab2020,
IMO, ...for aesthetics, drilling down the middle is the way
to go.
% ~ %
Rab2020,
IMO, ...for aesthetics, drilling down the middle is the way
to go.
% ~ %
I'd be willing to bet that a 4x4 would have been ok, so routing a 3/4" channel should be no problem at all.
A 3/4"x3/4" channel would only reduce the cross-sectional area of a 6x6 post by 1.86% anyways. This is negligible.
Go for it.
steveray
SAWHORSE
But it is holding up 20,000# and is 14' tall.....
Then it would be part of an engineering design and the owner would be asking the engineer this question, not us.
steveray
SAWHORSE
Why so? If you can approve a non-prescriptive notch in a post, why can you not approve a heavy post or tall?
ADAguy
Registered User
Why not just furr out the post with a larger wrap (duh?)
R301.3. Your speculative 14-ft tall post would require engineering as it exceeds the permissible prescriptive story height.
steveray
SAWHORSE
Show me any prescriptive posts in the code besides decks....In particular a porch post...