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In washington state is 1350 series aluminum wire is prohibited for general use in new construction
Executive summary
Washington State regulations do not appear in the provided sources to contain a blanket prohibition specifically naming "1350 series" aluminum wire for all general new-construction uses; the search results include Washington administrative code and model-code chapters that govern wiring methods and services but do not explicitly mention EC‑1350 or "1350 series" by the provided snippets (available sources do not mention a statewide ban on 1350-series aluminum for general use) [1] [2] [3]. National and technical discussion in the results distinguishes older solid EC/AA‑1350 branch‑circuit wire (historically problematic) from modern AA‑8000‑series stranded aluminum used for feeders and service conductors (discussed in trade forums and NEC commentary) [4] [5] [6].
1. What the Washington materials in this set cover — but don’t say
The set includes Washington Administrative Code entries and Washington Residential Code chapters that set state/local rules for wiring methods and services, but the snippets shown do not quote any clause that names EC‑1350 (or “1350 series”) and forbid its general use in new construction [1] [2] [7]. Because the available Washington documents in the results are model‑code excerpts or WAC entries, they are the right places to look for explicit prohibitions; however, the provided snippets do not include language that affirms a statewide ban on a particular aluminum alloy or product (available sources do not mention the exact prohibition claim) [2] [1].
2. National and technical context: why “1350” keeps appearing in debate
Technical and safety reporting in the results distinguishes older solid aluminum branch‑circuit wiring — often EC/AA‑1350 alloy used in the 1960s–1970s — as a recognized safety concern in residences, with commentary that insurers and inspectors remain wary of that legacy material [4] [8]. By contrast, modern stranded AA‑8000‑series aluminum conductors are widely discussed as an acceptable conductor material for larger sizes (feeders and services) under NEC provisions and industry practice; forum discussion notes an NEC ban on aluminum for small sizes (6 AWG and smaller for certain uses) but permits larger aluminum conductors and modern AA‑8000 alloys [6] [5].
3. How codes and practice treat aluminum conductors broadly
Industry and code commentary in the results suggest the National Electrical Code (NEC) and local amendments typically regulate conductor material by conductor type, application and size (for example, 310.2(b) referenced regarding size limits), rather than by a simple “series” label alone; one forum notes NEC language banning some aluminum conductors for branch circuits at certain small sizes while allowing larger aluminum feeders [6]. This means a product‑specific prohibition (e.g., “1350 series banned for all new construction”) would be unusual compared with rules tied to conductor type, marking, and ampacity (available sources do not show a Washington rule framed as a product‑series ban) [6] [5].
4. Evidence for and against a practical ban in Washington
Arguments for avoiding EC/AA‑1350 in residential branch circuits are present in safety reports and trade commentary — citing historical hazard assessments and the persistence of concern among inspectors and insurers about older solid aluminum branch wiring [3] [4]. Conversely, trade forum posts and NEC analysis included here argue that certain USE‑2 or service cables using EC‑1350 alloy have compliance paths under NEC exceptions and that AA‑8000 alloy is the preferred modern aluminum conductor for many cable types [5]. The Washington code snippets in the search results do not resolve whether the state has adopted a stricter local amendment banning EC‑1350 specifically [2] [7].
5. Practical next steps if you need a definitive local answer
Because the available sources in this set do not quote a Washington prohibition on "1350 series" for general new construction, a definitive answer requires checking the full, current Washington Administrative Code provisions (WAC) and any local municipal electrical amendments or the current Washington State Residential Code chapters for explicit language — the WAC entry listed here is WAC 296‑150M‑0550, which should be read in full for trade‑scope details [1]. Also consult the latest NEC edition as adopted locally and manufacturer markings (AA‑8000 vs EC‑1350) referenced in NEC articles and UL guides cited in trade forums [5] [6].
Limitations: the cited search results include code chapters and forum/industry discussion but the snippets provided do not include the full text of Washington code amendments or any direct rule that names “1350 series” as prohibited; therefore this analysis cannot claim a statewide ban exists or does not exist beyond the material shown (available sources do not mention a statewide ban on 1350‑series for general new construction) [2] [1] [5].