We are ready to begin our electrical! After receiving directions from the electrical inspector (via the electrician) that we needed to use ENT (non metallic conduit) and plastic boxes, Chris and I have spent many hours talking to suppliers. This option was expensive and cumbersome.
We spoke to several of our new “green” friends on the Island-the Robinsons (www.canadianfamilyrobinson.com) and the Bairds (www.eco-sense.ca) -who have recently built cob homes. Cob is the material that is used between our tires and the material upon which our electrical wire will sit and be buried in. After pulling together photos and anecdotal evidence and sharing information from their jurisdictions, our electrical inspector gave us the go ahead to wire “normally”, that is using the regular wire and metal boxes, without conduit. In essence because cob is not considered a corrosive material in other jurisdictions our electrical inspector has agreed to follow precedent, as long as he is provided with photos and copies of our research.
Yay. I am heartened that our mission to prove that we can build an alternative home affordably and under current regulations is possible. THIS is why it is important to build within the rules. Now, a precedent has been set in our jurisdiction and paves the way for others to build alternative homes with fewer challenges.
More in the coming weeks.
I have a blue flexible plastic conduit in the walls of my Monolithic dome for electrical wires. I don’t remember that it was too expensive.
We figured it would cost an extra $1000-$1500. We were being told we had to use the grey flexible conduit and ALL plastic boxes, etc. Fortunately, with some research and evidence of accepted wiring in similiar homes on Vancouver Island, our electrical inspector was VERY accomodating and we have been allowed to wire as normal, just as those do who build cob homes.