Temporary Wiring

Temporary electrical power and lighting installations of 600 volts, nominal or less, may be used only during activities such as the following:

• Remodeling
• Maintenance
• Repair of buildings, structures, or equipment, and similar activities
• For a limited time period for holiday, decorative, carnival, or similar lighting purposes
• For experimental or development work, and during emergencies

Temporary electrical installations of more than 600 volts may be used only during periods of tests, experiments, emergencies, or construction-like activities. Any temporary wiring must be removed immediately upon completion of construction or purpose for which the wiring was installed.

The regulations in 29 CFR 1926.405 specify the requirements that apply to feeders and branch circuits in temporary wiring.

Feeders must originate in a distribution center. The conductors must be run as multi-conductor cord or cable assemblies or within raceways. If there is no risk for physical damage, they can be run as open conductors on insulators no more than 10 feet apart.

To learn more about Construction Electrical Safety visit our Construction Electrical Safety Online Training web page.