Running wire in a crawl space

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JdoubleU

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I would like to run 5e under the crawl space to feed a computer lab. I thought about running smurf tube to each station from to IDF room as a raceway. Do I need to have outdoor rated wire to do this?
 
Jakewhis said:
I would like to run 5e under the crawl space to feed a computer lab. I thought about running smurf tube to each station from to IDF room as a raceway. Do I need to have outdoor rated wire to do this?
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This is a very interesting question. By crawl space I assume you mean an unheated area, usually with low overhead and a dirt or gravel floor that's open to the outside, said openings possibly covered with hardware cloth but certainly not weather-tight. In conversation with New Jersey's DCA, their opinion is that a crawl space is not a basement nor any interior space. This was in relation to a different code question, so I wonder if you would technically need to use fittings listed for outdoor use in such a space.
 
Depending on the area of the country a crawl space is typically dry location.
 
Is there a requirment for cat5e cable to be listed for damp locations when used in a damp location?
 
If a crawl space where damp then nm cable would not be allowed. Granted that many crawl spaces are very wet indeed but I have never seen anyone concerned about it.
 
Jakewhis said:
Is CMP cable rated for a damp location.
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Uhhh. No. Why would you think a plenum listed cable would be suitable for a wet location? Further, there is no such thing as a damp location as far as wiring goes. It's either wet or dry. For wet locations you would use a cable rated for direct burial. Crawl spaces are not considered a wet location unless perhaps they are underground. Unless you are throwing the cable on a dirt floor that is wet or subject to flooding a CMR listed cable is fine. Hopefully you will be hanging the cables from the joists or whatever the ceiling allows.

Incidentally, the kind of low voltage cable you choose to use for wet, dry or direct burial environments is not an NEC issue. They don't care because it's not a safety issue.

-Hal
 
hbiss said:
Uhhh. No. Why would you think a plenum listed cable would be suitable for a wet location? Further, there is no such thing as a damp location as far as wiring goes. It's either wet or dry. For wet locations you would use a cable rated for direct burial. Crawl spaces are not considered a wet location unless perhaps they are underground. Unless you are throwing the cable on a dirt floor that is wet or subject to flooding a CMR listed cable is fine. Hopefully you will be hanging the cables from the joists or whatever the ceiling allows.

Incidentally, the kind of low voltage cable you choose to use for wet, dry or direct burial environments is not an NEC issue. They don't care because it's not a safety issue.

-Hal
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Easy now its just a question. I would hope that no one would answer your question like you did mine. The crawl space that I planned on running this wire using hangers strapped to the joist according to the definition would be concidered a damp location. Not quit wet and not quit dry. I don't typically run low voltage wiring and wanted others opinions. Thank you all and I really appriciate the time you are taking to help me out.
 
Jakewhis said:
I would like to run 5e under the crawl space to feed a computer lab. I thought about running smurf tube to each station from to IDF room as a raceway. Do I need to have outdoor rated wire to do this?
Click to expand...

Interesting question.
 
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