400.7 and 400.8

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Dan coulstring

Dan coulstring

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Is a cord and plug suspended from a JB a pendant and if so can it be connected to the building structure with an approved strain relieving basket.
 
Thank You for responding. Does 400.7 allow me to swagger from a box with a strain relief attached to building structure and down to equipment with a cord cap.
 
raider1 said:
How far are you going to "swagger" the pendant?

Chris
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We limit cord lengths to six feet and attach the basket to a structural beam.

I posted this question beacause I am getting information that the only time you can connect to the structure is when originating out of a busway.
 
Dan coulstring said:
We limit cord lengths to six feet and attach the basket to a structural beam.

I posted this question beacause I am getting information that the only time you can connect to the structure is when originating out of a busway.
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I don't believe that to be correct information. It is based on:
400.8 Uses Not Permitted. Unless specifically permitted
in 400.7, flexible cords and cables shall not be used for the
following:
...
(4) Where attached to building surfaces
Exception to (4): Flexible cord and cable shall be permitted
to be attached to building surfaces in accordance with the
provisions of 368.56(B)
...
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...and...

368.56 Branches from Busways. Branches from busways
shall be permitted to be made in accordance with
368.56(A), (B), and (C).
...
(B) Cord and Cable Assemblies. Suitable cord and cable
assemblies approved for extra-hard usage or hard usage and
listed bus drop cable shall be permitted as branches from
busways for the connection of portable equipment or the
connection of stationary equipment to facilitate their interchange
in accordance with 400.7 and 400.8 and the following
conditions:
(1) The cord or cable shall be attached to the building by
an approved means.
(2) The length of the cord or cable from a busway plug-in
device to a suitable tension take-up support device shall
not exceed 1.8 m (6 ft).
(3) The cord and cable shall be installed as a vertical riser
from the tension take-up support device to the equipment
served.
(4) Strain relief cable grips shall be provided for the cord
or cable at the busway plug-in device and equipment
terminations.
Exception to (B)(2): In industrial establishments only,
where the conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure
that only qualified persons service the installation,
lengths exceeding 1.8 m (6 ft) shall be permitted between
the busway plug-in device and the tension take-up support
device where the cord or cable is supported at intervals not
exceeding 2.5 m (8 ft).
...
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IMO, attached to is not the same as supported from. Furthermore, a building surface is not clearly defined in the NEC. Structural steel, for example, is not a building surface... again IMO.

I consider attached to a building surface is where the cable or cord is pinned to a surface, such as with a strap.

Next, when I have used basket-type cord grips for vertical support, I did not support them directly from structural steel. Rather support was from a hook clamped or otherwise secured to building steel, such that even the cord supporting means was not attached directly to the building elements. If further complications arise, include a length of chain (however short... 2-3 links) and the supporting means is now a pendant.
 
I agree, our facility has hundreds of drops like that. Changing them would be very costly. Thanks for your input.

It is all in the interpretation.
 
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