Occupancy sensor/ control wiring

[LAYMAN JOE]

I'm installing some ceiling mounted occupancy sensors in an accessible ceiling of a 20000 sq' office. The sensors installation diagram shows you cutting a hole in an acoustical ceiling and mounting it directly to the ceiling without a junction box. This leaves the splicing of 24 volt dc exposed in the drop ceiling.

Also the transformer mounts on the outside of a j-box leaving the 277 volt wires in the box and the secondary side (24 volts dc) is exposed outside of the box.

Question:
Does the NEC permit you to splice cat 5 plenum rated wire (or any control wire) in an accessible ceiling without using a junction box?

I would appreciate your thoughts. After posting this I wont be near a PC for a few days. I'll be back to check in.

 

[Rich Elec.]

Joe,
Take a look at Art. 725.
Also, the last job I was on had several occ. sensors. We made the low voltage connections in a box because the customer was trying to apply NFPA70E standards to anything he could, so we covered our butts.

 

[iwire]

The NEC does not require a box for this.

That said I usually use them if for nothing else appearance.