romex in hotel hallways above suspended ceiling

Status
Not open for further replies.
R

ronball

Senior Member
Location
Champaign Il.
Occupation
Electric Contractor
We are wiring a hotel in Illinois, we can wire the units with romex, but inspector says we have to us mc cable in halls and common areas that have drop ceilings. The ceilings already have 2 layers of drywall. where is the code spec's that say we can't.
 
Take a look at 334.12(A)(2).

Unless these hotel rooms are dwelling units the hotel would not be a multifamily dwelling.

Chris
 
You can't run exposed Romex. If the Romex is covered with drywall, I dont see a problem. (Its not clear from your post if the drywall covers the Romex. )

I just had a similar situation in an apt. building. The inspector is going to let the Romex be boxed in with drywall, or sleeved in EMT through the common corridors (which are considered a commercial occupancy.)

Steve
 
There is nothing to prohibit romex in a commercial building in the code. It just says no romex in suspended ceilings. You must check the type of construction.
 
steve66 said:
You can't run exposed Romex. If the Romex is covered with drywall, I dont see a problem. (Its not clear from your post if the drywall covers the Romex. )

I just had a similar situation in an apt. building. The inspector is going to let the Romex be boxed in with drywall, or sleeved in EMT through the common corridors (which are considered a commercial occupancy.)

Steve
Click to expand...
Steve,
Is there a local rule that applies? You can run NM above drop ceilings in a multi-family dwellings (an appartment building).
334.12(A)(2) Exposed in dropped or suspended ceilings in other than one- and two-family and multifamily dwellings
Click to expand...
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
Steve,
Is there a local rule that applies? You can run NM above drop ceilings in a multi-family dwellings (an appartment building).
Click to expand...

No, there wasn't a local rule. I think the common corridors should of been considered part of a "multi-family dwelling", but the inspector called it "commercial spaces".

But it didn't seem to be worth a fight for the limited number of dropped ceilings we had in common corridors. The contractor can still run NM and SE throught the corridors, they just can't be "exposed".

Steve
 
I think Illinois has stricter wiring requirements then the NEC. I remember hearing someone say they couldn't find romex in the big box stores in that State. Or mayber it's just Cook County (Chicagoland).
 
Last edited:
Mr. Bill said:
I think Illinois has stricter wiring requirements then the NEC. I remember hearing someone say they couldn't find romex in the big box stores in that State. Or mayber it's just Cook County (Chicagoland).
Click to expand...

That's probably just Cook County. Some areas (or maybe the entrie county) require all wiring in conduit (even for a single dwelling).

Here in "downstate" Illinios, NM can be found pretty easy.
 
Mr. Bill said:
I think Illinois has stricter wiring requirements then the NEC. I remember hearing someone say they couldn't find romex in the big box stores in that State. Or mayber it's just Cook County (Chicagoland).
Click to expand...
Illinois does not have a state wide code. Most of the Chicago area has "pipe" codes...no NM. This does extend beyond Chicago and Cook County. Many of the cities in the "collar" counties also have "pipe" codes. Well over half of the population of Illinios lives in the areas that do not permit NM.
 
Last edited:
don_resqcapt19 said:
Illinois does not have a state wide code. Most of the Chicago area has "pipe" codes...no NM. This does extend beyond Chicago and Cook County. Many of the cities in the "collar" counties also have "pipe" codes. Well over half of the population of Illinios lives in the areas that do not permit NM.
Click to expand...

Don are homeowners allowed to pull homeowner permits in the pipe only areas? If so I bet that would provide a lot of interesting installation photos.
 
SEO said:
Don are homeowners allowed to pull homeowner permits in the pipe only areas? If so I bet that would provide a lot of interesting installation photos.
Click to expand...
I don't think they can in Chicago, not sure about the rest of the area.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top