We are doing a pre-wire and the contractor told us it's standard practice to use plastic sleeves in every drilled hole we are pulling wires through. In all of our years we have never done this, and I have never seen it done.

Are people really installing plastic sleeves in 100+ holes to prevent wire damage?

Please tell me I'm not crazy!

Wood or metal studs?

wood studs

Never seen it myself in anything but metal studs.

me either, and we've been at this for a long time. I just wanted to make sure.

Thanks.

Never heard of it. Does it even exist?

Steels studs, yes. Wood, no.

Tell the inspector that you want to do just what he's asking for, and would he be so kind as to give you the name of the last couple of electricians who installed these when he, uh, requested them?

Either supply me with the proof he has done this in the past and the source for these "plastic sleeves". Or be prepared for me to resubmit a bid for a LOT more than originally quoted for dealing with this stupid BS.
​I would also ask are theses sleeves UL approved for in-wall use. Very relevant question, if it burns & melts in the wall during a fire, is it possible someone could sue someone for something?

Sounds like total BS to me. No way this is part of any local code. And could be a violation of it, if my above question becomes true - which I bet it is.

​[edit]: Would be funny as hell if this idiot shows you some metal stud bushings and says they are installing them in wood studs. I would lose the job, because I wouldn't be able to stop laughing in his face.

I forgot to mention I checked Caddy products and a couple of articles on wiring. Nothing. If Caddy doesn't have it, it's not needed.

It was the contractor who said that, not the inspector.

Maybe this GC is a leftover from the knob and tube days.

Ask for a brand and part number.

Also, if he says that you should cut pieces of PVC pipe, show him the articles about the problems caused when the PVC absorbs the plasticizers in communication cabling and that you don't want to risk damaging the cable jacket in the event that the PVC affects it.

[Link: cedia.net]

You are not crazy. The contractor is. Firecaulk is common in these parts to fill holes after the fact. That is all.

I think the dimwit is trying to describe carlon tubing.  Since none of us with decades of experience, have NEVER seen anything like this from any distributor we've ever walked into...the same guys who can answer just about every bat sh!t crazy question that has to do with low voltage in less than 2 posts (and then spend 2 pages arguing about it).   I believe it's NOT a product...

He's gotta be trying to describe Carlon Tubing.. Then his request would kinda make sense.

Then he's not talking about every hole...he's talking about between sources and TV's?    Maybe...

Or he's just a moron.

no, believe it or not, they are talking about plastic inserts. They are crazy. I think it's the contractors first time around.

On another note, we always ask the contractor where we can drill holes and what size, how many, etc. Each job is different so we want to make sure we do things right.

Is there a universal rule for hole size and how many holes can be drilled near each other, etc in joists and studs, or does it depend upon local codes? We've always asked the contractor per job. I know the plumbers have huge holes!