Re: Receptacles Above Grid Ceiling?
2002 NEC 400.8 Uses Not Permitted
This subsection was revised to read:
Unless specifically permitted in 400.7 , flexible cords and cables cannot be used for the following:
(1) As a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure
(2) Where run through holes in walls, structural ceilings, suspended ceilings, dropped ceilings, or floors
(3) Where run through doorways, windows, or similar openings
(4) Where attached to building surfaces
(5) Where concealed by walls, floors or ceilings, or located above suspended or dropped ceilings.
(6) Where installed in raceways, except as otherwise permitted in this Code
Intent: The change clarifies that flexible cords cannot be located above a suspended ceiling. However, wiring within a raised floor is permitted, because this space is not considered a concealed space.
Looks like the sentence Unless specifically permitted in 400.7(a) sorta opens up a major can of worms!
There are a lot of 10gal hot water heaters that come with cord and plug! so, 400.8 says no, unless specifically permitted in 400.7(a)...so the word cant becomes maybe and can under certain circumstances! If you couldnt under 400.8 then they wouldnt have put in the words Unless specifically permitted in 400.7(a)! now, to use cord and plug you need to meet 400.7(b).
IMO this art. has been beat to death, miss understood, and we all know it has truly been violated! IMO the intent was to keep extension cords from being run all over the ceiling grid(above it) and down from it! If plugging something in above a ceiling is a problem then wouldnt you also think that plugging something in under a raised floor would/could be a problem!you wouldnt be concealed under a raised floor but you would in a dropped ceiling?
[ July 05, 2004, 02:18 AM: Message edited by: cs409 ]
