In previous posts I asked about the necessity to remove K&T wiring from walls prior to dense-pack.  The general answer here was ‘yes’, which I confirmed by finding 1987 national electrical code, which prevails in NJ.  Now, what’s the best way to identify these runs?  Half of basement is unfinished and K&T can be identified by inspection.  I’ve been told putting loads on the line and visualizing with a IR camera is best.  Others say that a credible job can be done using electrical circuit tracing tool designed for professional use (e.g. Amprobe).

“Concealed knob-and-tube wiring is designed for use in hollow spaces of walls, ceilings, and attics and utilizes the free air in such spaces for heat dissipation. Weatherization of hollow spaces by blown-in, foamed-in, or rolled insulation prevents the dissipation of heat into the free air space. This will result in higher conductor temperature, which could cause insulation breakdown and possible ignition of the insulation”.