Tempory flexible cords under stage

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TMTERRY

Member
Location
Friant,Ca, USA
I have an installation where I cannot find an approved method of wiring. It is a stage in an event center of a casino. We would like to install raceways that cross under the stage to sleave flexible cables through, to eliminate trip hazards on the stage. These cables would be;
  1. Audio
  2. Video
  3. Power
  4. Control
  5. Lighting
Each racway would be for like kind. These cables will not be perminate, and will vary in the needs of each act that performs. I cannot find anything in the NEC that allows these temporary cables to be permited within a raceway or even a cable tray. It seem that those cables listed under article 310.13 and those listed under 400.4 are mutually exclusive. I see in 400.8 (Uses not permitted), it specifically state that the cables listed under 400.4 cannot be installed in raceways, except as otherwise permited in this code.
Can anyone offer a viable sugestion?
 
J

jim dungar

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Wisconsin
Occupation
PE (Retired) - Power Systems
Do you really have raceways (i.e. complete from enclosure to enclosure) or do you have very long protective sleeves (i.e. the ends are not connected to anything)?
 
Z

zbang

Senior Member
Location
Roughly 5346 miles from Earls Court
Is this a temporary or permanent stage? What's the structure like? How long are these cables in place?

Generally with temporary stages, all cables are run along the ground under the stage and in "yellowjackets" in traffic areas. If this is a permanent stage, and the space underneath is not environmental air space, we'd usually just drop the cables down through a floor pocket, loop them over hooks or along the floor, then back up another floor pocket. I've also seen 5" or 6" PVC installed for this purpose, but pulling the cables in has it's own problems (like it's hard to add another cable after the first pull).

Is there really enough cable to cause a trip hazard that can't be solved with gaff tape, mats, or cable ramps? Or is this more a visual problem?
 
T

TMTERRY

Member
Location
Friant,Ca, USA
Description of stage and usage

Description of stage and usage

This is a permanent stage. It is post and bean construction. The cable ares temporary and vary with the act that is performing. Between events these conduits would be empty. Durring an event it would not be unusual to have 30+ cables of various function. This stage has approximately 30" of space between the bottom of the its floor structure and the slab beneath. It has many support "posts" as well as horizonal and diagonal bracing, therefore it is quite dificult to crawl beneath. To run the cables on hooks or on the slab, would be quite time consuming especialy when the same act rairly performs over twice per visit, and the room must be then be fitted to the needs of act which may preform the following day.
While the stage is indoors, the arebeneath is separated from the room by a heavy fixed curtain, it is not a plenum floor that is used to move inviromental air.
It is our desire to runs 6"PVC conduits beneath the stage, as chases for the cables. This is in an Indian casino which exemps us fom local ans state codes, but it is imparative that the installation conform to NEC.
zbang said:
Is this a temporary or permanent stage? What's the structure like? How long are these cables in place?

Generally with temporary stages, all cables are run along the ground under the stage and in "yellowjackets" in traffic areas. If this is a permanent stage, and the space underneath is not environmental air space, we'd usually just drop the cables down through a floor pocket, loop them over hooks or along the floor, then back up another floor pocket. I've also seen 5" or 6" PVC installed for this purpose, but pulling the cables in has it's own problems (like it's hard to add another cable after the first pull).

Is there really enough cable to cause a trip hazard that can't be solved with gaff tape, mats, or cable ramps? Or is this more a visual problem?
Click to expand...
 
D

DTLight

Member
Location
Mesa AZ
How do the cables get through the stage floor?

Generally you will want to not run lighting and power cables within a foot of the other signal cables if it can be avoided.
 
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