Apartments running NM (romex) through rooms to another room

[Tank11]

I have a project where they're converting a hotel to an apartment building. Each room will be getting a new kitchen with new appliances and therefore wire will be run from a central location where the panels are located. The electrician wants to build a soffit to run wires through the rooms to drop wire as needed for each room.

Is there a code issue running through the rooms? Or should they run the wires in the corridor? The soffit will be hard lid and non-accessible. Romex is run in the building already.

 

[LarryFine]

It's not a problem for circuits or even feeders.

 

[Buck Parrish]

I have a project where they're converting a hotel to an apartment building. Each room will be getting a new kitchen with new appliances and therefore wire will be run from a central location where the panels are located. The electrician wants to build a soffit to run wires through the rooms to drop wire as needed for each room.

Is there a code issue running through the rooms? Or should they run the wires in the corridor? The soffit will be hard lid and non-accessible. Romex is run in the building already.

If it was in the corridor it would have to be above the drywall cieling and not a drop cieling. I know some corridors are built with drywall way up high for fire protection and then the drop cieling about 3 ft below that.

 

[PaulMmn]

Is Romex allowed in commercial establishments? I thought not.
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Won't each apartment have to have it's own panel??
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If there are elevators, are there elevator lobbies with doors that close them off in case of fire? (not an electrical issue, except the auto-closers).

 

[Fred B]

Might need to consider fire code issues as occupancy type changes are happening.

Is Romex allowed in commercial establishments? I thought not.

Depending on structure class type. NEC 334.10(2)

.
Won't each apartment have to have it's own panel??

Each occupant has to have access, not necessarily in each unit. 240.24(B)

.
If there are elevators, are there elevator lobbies with doors that close them off in case of fire? (not an electrical issue, except the auto-closers).