I was referring to the definition of ceiling, which is not defined in Code, and only used such to emphasize the poor wording of the section under discussion.
Romex above fire rated drop ceiling....
- Thread starter chevyx92
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mgookin
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- Fort Myers, FL
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- Retired inspector, plans examiner & building official
Ah, I thought it was still the "accessible" part. My bad.
david
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- Pennsylvania
334.12 Uses Not Permitted. (A) Types NM, NMC, and NMS. Types NM, NMC, and NMS cables shall not be permitted as follows:
(2) Exposed in dropped or suspended ceilings
in other than
one- and two-family and multifamily dwellings
I took the comment to mean the limitation was in relationship to occupancy use not construction type. I was understanding that we where talking about ceilings with panels designed to allow access. Not lowered hard cap ceilings if you want to call that type suspended.
david
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- Pennsylvania
they are not included in the sub group one and two family and multi family dwelligs
The discussion is more on "exposed" rather than "accessible". But accessible does play into it, but is not used in the stipulation.
And on that matter... what if we interpret the poor wording to mean: Exposed in dropped or suspended ceiling [cavities] in other than one- and two-family and multifamily dwellings...?
The frame of reference for exposed, by Code definition, would be within the cavity itself... :huh:
mwm1752
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- Aspen, Colo
and your point?
mwm1752
Senior Member
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by your analysis - interior of walls are exposed
mwm1752
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- Aspen, Colo
I couldn't edit last comment out so ignore it -- the floor joist have cavities -
Yes... but only if the frame of reference is in the wall cavity. There is nowhere in the Code that gives that as the frame of reference. That and you're reading way too much into it. I'm not trying to change the meaning of exposed in general. I'm only referring to the stipulation of 334.12(A)(2) and that is all...!!!
No offense intended... but you really suck at this literal and technical interpretation stuff.
Floor joists do not (typically) have cavities. The space you are referring to is between joists of a structural floor-ceiling assembly... and that's actually using the Code's textual description in 300.11. If NM is installed in this space and the joists have both a hard top and bottom, then it would not be exposed in the suspended or dropped ceiling [cavity] there under [the frame of reference as stipulated in 334.12(A)(2)]. If there is no hard bottom, then it would be exposed in the suspended or dropped ceiling [cavity].
mwm1752
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- Aspen, Colo
offense taken -- thereis no arguing with ignorance -- you are an expert at pleasing yourself but I understand seeing your profile as a GC who does little commercial work --
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Sorry to see you took my comment as offensive... but I can't change my opinion at this time. :happysad:
And apparently you read someone else's profile.
Though not in my profile, I have over 30 years of electrical/electronic experience in the trade: as a journeyman wireman doing mostly heavy and light industrial, some commercial and institutional; some as a manufacturing engineer... no residential as an [on-the-books] professional. For the past three years I've been a contractor of I&C work at nuclear power plants.
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