TIL the local code in Springfield allows aluminum wiring in new residential builds

I rewired a 1950s house there last month and found the original aluminum branch circuits. Everyone at the supply house said to rip it all out, but after checking the 2023 NEC and the city's amendments, it's still listed as acceptable for new 15 and 20 amp circuits with the proper connectors. I kept the existing runs where they were in good shape and just updated the devices. Has anyone else worked under a jurisdiction that still permits this?

3 comments

3 Comments

joelwells1mo ago

You're right that the code still allows it, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea. I've seen too many melted outlets and scorched wires in old aluminum jobs. Even with the right connectors, the metal expands and contracts differently than copper. If you're keeping the old runs, you better be damn sure every single device is rated for aluminum and you used the antioxidant paste. One loose connection is all it takes.

evac891mo ago

It's the same reason my grandpa's old truck is still technically road legal but a nightmare to drive. We keep patching up systems that were a bad idea from the start because the upfront cost to fix it right seems too high. Then we act shocked when the whole thing eventually catches fire. Aluminum wiring feels like a perfect metaphor for that whole cycle.

mark3611mo ago

Honestly, nobody's talking about how aluminum's price swings could make it the only option for affordable housing soon.