Bathroom remodel rough-in

The answer

Nothing is wrong: the cables are protected where they pass through the studs, supported by the bored holes, and stapled within 12 in of each box.

Correct choice: 1. Nothing. This installation is compliant

Where a bored hole is closer than 1-1/4 in to the face of a stud, a 1/16 in steel plate over the cable satisfies 300.4(A)(1), and those plates are in place on every stud the cables pass. Horizontal runs through bored framing at no more than 4.5 ft spacing are considered supported and secured (334.30(A)), so no staples are needed between studs; each cable is stapled within 12 in of its box (334.30). Two cables sharing one hole is fine; the 334.80 ampacity adjustment starts at more than two cables through an opening that gets sealed with insulation, caulk, or foam. The yellow 12 AWG cable feeds the 20 A receptacle circuit (210.11(C)(3)), the white 14 AWG cable is a separate 15 A light circuit, and the receptacle box is well over 3 ft from the tub rim (406.9(C)).

How to fix it

Code references

• NEC 2023 334.30(A) — Horizontal Runs Through Holes and Notches

  In other than vertical runs, cables installed in accordance with 300.4 shall be considered supported and secured where such support does not exceed 1.4 m (4.5 ft) intervals and the cable is securely fastened in place by an approved means within 300 mm (12 in.) of each box, cabinet, conduit body, or other cable termination.

  Drills citing 334.30(A)

• NEC 2023 300.4(A)(1) — Bored Holes

  Holes bored in wood members shall have their edge at least 32 mm (1-1/4 in.) from the nearest edge of the wood member; where that distance cannot be maintained, the cable shall be protected by a steel plate or bushing at least 1.6 mm (1/16 in.) thick covering the area of the wiring.

  Drills citing 300.4(A)(1)

• NEC 2023 334.80 — Ampacity

  Where more than two NM cables containing two or more current-carrying conductors are installed, without maintaining spacing between them, through the same opening in wood framing that is to be sealed with thermal insulation, caulk, or sealing foam, the ampacity of each conductor shall be adjusted in accordance with Table 310.15(C)(1).

  Drills citing 334.80

2026 NEC:changed: No change was reported to 334.30(A) itself, but in 2026 the staples that 334.30 requires within 12 in of each box must now be listed, and the bored-hole rule 300.4(A)(1) is now 300.6(A)(1). The installation still passes if the staples are listed, but the explanation should say so and cite 300.6. Confidence: medium

Minnesota

Why the other choices are wrong

• The horizontal cable run is not stapled at each stud. Cable run horizontally through bored holes at intervals of 4.5 ft or less is considered supported and secured, as long as it is fastened within 12 in of each box (334.30(A)).
• Two NM cables through one bored hole require ampacity derating. The 334.80 adjustment applies only when more than two NM cables pass, without spacing, through the same opening that will be sealed with insulation, caulk, or foam; two cables need no adjustment even if the hole is later sealed.
• NM cable may not be installed in a wall adjacent to a bathtub. No such rule. NM is permitted in dwelling bathroom walls (334.10(1)); tub and shower zone rules apply to luminaires, switches, and receptacles, not to cable in the wall.