Cat 5

[laketime]

Is it legal to run CAT5 in a wall without conduit in a commercial building?

 

[curt swartz]

Maybe......If its just an interior partition yes but it its a rated wall you will probably need a metal raceway where you penetrate the wall and a fully enclosed box at the jack location.

 

[wireguru]

depends on local ammendments. Clark County, NV (vegas) probits any concealed wire thats not in conduit.

 

[nakulak]

also depends on what the cable is being used for. check the article that applies.

 

[Rewire]

The main reason you see conduit used is because the CAT5 is usually not pulled until later in the build after the walls have been rocked i have often seen an area of a building have a ruff-in inspection prior to other areas even having stud walls.

 

[adelle]

Review artical 725. In most juristictions communication wiring can be exposed provided it meets the requirements of the space.

Example: Plenum spaces require a Plenum rating (CL2P). Riser cables must have that rating.

If in doubt just run plenum grade (CL2P). It's roughly twice the cost but you can be assured it will pass. On large jobs plenum cable may actually price out cheaper because of the quantity discount versus buying smaller amounts of both plenum and non-plenum cable.