Got a call this week from a contractor who was told by his inspector that he needed ANTI-SHORTS on all his MC cables. If you are using MC cable per 330.40 of the Code you are not required to have ANTI-SHORTS installed, they are only required when you use AC cable. Looking at sections 330.40 and 320.40 these section are easy to read and understand when anti-shorts are required. See my graphic below to help understand when they are required and when they are not. In the field today we mostly use MC cable I personally have not seen AC cable used in a long time we just got use to calling MC, “AC cable or BX”. This contractor had to spend a day and a half inserting something that was not required. When you buy the reels on MC most come with anti-shorts because some places have required them because they wanted them, not because the Code required them. See the link below to NEMA’s bulletin for the use of ANTI-SHORTS.
MC cable has a plastic strip inside of it NO PAPER OR CARDBOARD
AC cable has paper and or cardboard fillers surrounding the conductors.
As always if you are having trouble seeing the graphic just click on it.
Till the next time be safe work safe.
Jake