Fire alarm within 7ft of floor Conduit required?

[brother]

I always thought and practice that when running and installing fire alarm cable within 7ft of the finished floor it had to be in metal conduit (emt.. etc.. ).

But after reading the actual wording of NEC 2023 language, 760.130(B)(2) Passing Through a floor or wall... It appears it can be understood that metal raceway is only required when passing through the walls, not running along the walls. I plan to continue use conduit when having to install it, but am I reading this correctly?

 

[don_resqcapt19]

760.130(B)(1) only requires fastening the exposed cables at intervals not exceeding 18" where the cable does not pass through a floor.

 

[brother]

760.130(B)(1) only requires fastening the exposed cables at intervals not exceeding 18" where the cable does not pass through a floor.

Im aware of that section. But do you have any idea why the NEC would require conduit when it passes 'through' walls or floors within 7ft vs not passing through within 7ft to be in conduit?? it appears to me there would still be potential damage and danger to the fire alarm cable.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

The point where is passes through the floor is much more likely to be damaged then where is it just run on the wall itself. The same rule exists for NM cable. That being said, I have never seen exposed fire alarm cable in my 40+ years.