Are there any NEC or NFPA code sections that would restrict you from free wiring CAT 5/5E/6 cabling in an electrical room? I am running into this in a Healthcare facility. Thanks.
The only things that come to mind are ensuring your penetrations into the electrical room maintain the fire rating of the wall, and not violating working spaces of panels. And that you are supposed to be in the electrical room by prints. Racks need to be bolted to the floor. You can check with the latest copy of TDMM and the AHJ to see if there any more considerations. Art 645 of the NEC covers IT rooms.
I did this install ~8 years ago in a hotel in NC. Not a hospital but not far off.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/32712057@N06/3391641622/in/dateposted-public/
The ~450 cat5e, cat6, and CATV cables enter above the door header via 4 4" EMT sleeves, firestopped inside and out, 25' into the room to wall mounted 110 blocks for phone and a 7' rack for data (turned 90* ccw of this photo) and Mitel PBX. Cable company mounted their taps bottom left of the 110 blocks.
EmBarq, not I, mounted the BET and cable wrapped around sheet metal screws instead of mushrooms.
