Is Meeting a Standard Enough?—An Examination of Duct Sealing Code Compliance.
Numerous international codes and standards exist to mandate that electrical and communication conduits be sealed. Duct seals provide relatively inexpensive prevention against costly and potentially catastrophic cable and equipment damage. Their function is primarily to block water ingress, but also gases, fire, dust, pests, or other materials that could harm utility infrastructure and cause service outages. However, an important and often overlooked question is whether such mandates provide adequate guidance for installers on what exactly constitutes a compliant and, more to the point, functional seal. This article explores the difference between best practices and the vital role of code enforcement.