Air handling ceilings

[macmikeman]

I have been doing some small jobs in a multistory high rise office building recently. I have a question about what I see the data companies doing frequently. The building has dropped ceilings and the return air flows thru from the light fixtures into the ceilings. The data guys generally use plenum rated cable up there, and even a few use plenum rated tie wraps when securing the runs but they do not run the cables thru any of the raceways I see in 330.22. I have been securing bundles of existing data and phone cables to the concrete ceiling when I do any work, just because I don't like it when previous hacks just pitch it thru the ceiling without supports. But is emt or another approved raceway required for this in that building?

 

[JFletcher]

Raceways are not required for plenum rated cable. If it is a chapter 8 install, it is not subject to the rules of chapters 1 through 4 unless specifically cited (see 90.3) I happen to know that 300.22(c), which is the section I believe you meant to site is not sited in chapter 8. 300.21 and 300.22 (a) are.

That all written you are correct, data guys frequently do sloppy work, but then again I see electricians slinging Cat 5 cable with 20 foot between supports too. This data guy was given copies of the 2003 TDMM when he started and told learn it or don't come back to work. Was also shown the proper ways to support communication cables.

800.154 (a) expressly permits CMP cable in air handling spaces. So do 820 and 830.154 (a) (perhaps 840 as well)