Speaker wires in a church

[GerryB]

I am trying to determine if I need to run speaker wires in a new church (place of assembly) in metal conduit. Any code references appreciated. Thanks.

 

[rbalex]

This is basically a Section 518.4(A) question. The Exception may lead you to another Article as appropriate.

 

[GerryB]

This is basically a Section 518.4(A) question. The Exception may lead you to another Article as appropriate.

Thanks, I did see that but haven't read through 640 yet. From what I'm told they are using the red ac cable for the fire alarm.

 

[hbiss]

518.4(A) Exception(a) sends you to 640.3(E) which sends you back to 518. :blink:

However 640.9(C):Output Wiring and Listing of Amplifiers just reiterates the normal requirements for Class 1, 2 and 3 wiring. Nothing special for places of occupancy. So unless the amplifier is marked Class 1 wiring required (or not marked at all) no conduit or Chapter 3 wiring method (AC or MC) is required.

-Hal

 

[kwired]

Do use shielded or twisted pair cable if not running in metal raceway, or you may pick up RF signals and amplify them on your speakers.

When I was a kid we would sometimes hear CB radio transmissions over the sound system in our church. Church was at an intersection of two major highways that pass through the town I lived in. I'd guess most of what we heard was being transmitted when the CB user happened to be passing by the church, you would only get random one sided conversation for just a short period of time.

Also seen home audio systems pick up nearby commercial broadcast stations - whether tuned into that station or not, even when not listening to the radio tuner portion of the system - speaker wires picked it up because they weren't shielded or twisted.

 

[hbiss]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=speaker+cable+shielded+or+unshielded

-Hal