Receptacles Above Suspended Ceilings

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dlhoule

dlhoule

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Michigan
Is a room installed inside of a building; 10' walls with a suspended ceiling at 9' open to the roof at 50' not allowed to have any cords above the suspended ceiling.

If it can; can I plug lights mounted in the suspended ceiling into an outlet?


Moderator note. This question was asked on the end of an old thread, I moved it into a new thread for a fresh start. Bob
 
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I agree with Chris too, although that doesn't mean I necessarily agree with the NEC's blanket prohibition.

Roger
 
roger said:
I agree with Chris too, although that doesn't mean I necessarily agree with the NEC's blanket prohibition.

Roger
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Whats the purpose behind not allowing cords in a suspended ceiling? I don't see any problem unless it was a plenum ceiling.
 
chevyx92 said:
Whats the purpose behind not allowing cords in a suspended ceiling? I don't see any problem unless it was a plenum ceiling.
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I don't see a problem with a cord and plug on a piece of equipment plugged into an above the ceiling receptacle. For example it's very common to install a condensate pump with a 120 volt cord and plug in the ceiling. IMO the pump will fail long before the cord does. However the NEC disagrees with me.
 
chevyx92 said:
Whats the purpose behind not allowing cords in a suspended ceiling? I don't see any problem unless it was a plenum ceiling.
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400.8 Uses Not Permitted

(2) Where run through holes in walls, structural ceilings, suspended ceilings, dropped ceilings, or floors

(5) Where concealed by walls, floors, or ceilings or located above suspended or dropped ceilings

It is all suspended ceilings plenum or not.

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Roger
 
infinity said:
I don't see a problem with a cord and plug on a piece of equipment plugged into an above the ceiling receptacle. For example it's very common to install a condensate pump with a 120 volt cord and plug in the ceiling. IMO the pump will fail long before the cord does. However the NEC disagrees with me.
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I agree and I guess I will never understand why it's not allowed. Has anyone got any rejections from the panel to change this???
 
roger said:
400.8 Uses Not Permitted

(2) Where run through holes in walls, structural ceilings, suspended ceilings, dropped ceilings, or floors

(5) Where concealed by walls, floors, or ceilings or located above suspended or dropped ceilings

It is all suspended ceilings plenum or not.

1019512720_2.gif


Roger
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Thanks Roger, I know that the code doesn't allow it.
 
Do existing cords located above a suspended ceiling is to be installed need removal?

Do existing cords located above a suspended ceiling is to be installed need removal?

Okay, now one more question: Is it necessary to remove the current cords plugged into outlets above new suspended ceiling serving lights outside of the area of the suspended ceiling? If they can stay why can't I plug into outlets at a lower height for the ones in the suspended ceiling?
 
I did install a duplex above the ceiling for a phone system that was going to be installed up there (small office, with no "phone room"). Passed inspection, because the phone system was not installed yet. :wink:
 
mdshunk said:
I did install a duplex above the ceiling for a phone system that was going to be installed up there (small office, with no "phone room"). Passed inspection, because the phone system was not installed yet. :wink:
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It should pass inspection because the receptacle is permitted. You just can't plug anything into it.:roll:
 
dlhoule said:
Okay, now one more question: Is it necessary to remove the current cords plugged into outlets above new suspended ceiling serving lights outside of the area of the suspended ceiling?
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I don't know, that's up to the AHJ and whether he / she may make an exception, but he / she would be allowing a violation of the article.

dlhoule said:
If they can stay why can't I plug into outlets at a lower height for the ones in the suspended ceiling?
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You can't if you are trying to comply with the NEC.

BTW, Chevy, I apologize, I know you knew the article, I didn't mean for my post to sound like I didn't think you did.

Roger
 
SmithBuilt said:
I've installed many condensate pump receptacles above the ceiling.

What would be the proper way to install a condensate pump? A switch and hard wire the pump?
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There is a hard-wired version of most every consensate pump. Best of luck swinging past the HVAC supply house and picking up one of them, however. Last time I went down that road, it involved waiting 3 weeks or paying an extra 50 bucks for UPS red.
 
SmithBuilt said:
I've installed many condensate pump receptacles above the ceiling.

What would be the proper way to install a condensate pump? A switch and hard wire the pump?
Click to expand...

As posted earlier, (post #6) this is one of the problems with this "blanket" rule, another item could be motorized projection screens if they are supplied with factory cords.

Roger
 
SmithBuilt said:
I've installed many condensate pump receptacles above the ceiling.

What would be the proper way to install a condensate pump? A switch and hard wire the pump?
Click to expand...

I only install the receptacle. Someone else not bound by the NEC installs a pump, no? Didn't really think that would work.:grin:

Tom
 
We still have architects designing (sensormatic) theft control systems with receptacles above the ceiling with a cord connected factory wired unit above the ceiling...Passes every time. I guess this code was changed in 1996 but our AHJ hasn't noticed it yet...
 
Chris6245 said:
We still have architects designing (sensormatic) theft control systems with receptacles above the ceiling with a cord connected factory wired unit above the ceiling...Passes every time. I guess this code was changed in 1996 but our AHJ hasn't noticed it yet...
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why don't you enlighten him/them?
 
The workaround to this is to only plug in devices that use a "wall wart" -- a transformer on the end of the line cord. The resulting "cord" is now class 2 wiring, and is permitted above such ceillings.... :grin:
 
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