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Is it ok to put an outlet above the suspended ceiling
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| Hello
Here is my situation. I am placing a ceiling mount pole for a lcd
monitor in my dental office. I have suspended ceilings. I need to get
power to my monitor of course and I was planning on putting a standard
outlet above the suspended ceiling and routing my power cable in the
ceiling pole mount. Then plugging into the outlet.
Is it within code to put an outlet in this area?
Thanks in advance!
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| electrician@electrician2.com 2006-06-16, 9:42 am |
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cdoc wrote:
> Hello
> Here is my situation. I am placing a ceiling mount pole for a lcd
> monitor in my dental office. I have suspended ceilings. I need to get
> power to my monitor of course and I was planning on putting a standard
> outlet above the suspended ceiling and routing my power cable in the
> ceiling pole mount. Then plugging into the outlet.
> Is it within code to put an outlet in this area?
> Thanks in advance!
Although Article 406 that covers receptacles does not have any specific
rules for not mounting receptacles above suspended ceilings Article 400
does have a rule on flexible cords that does not permit a flexible cord
above a suspended ceiling.
>From the 2005 NEC:
400.8 Uses not permitted for flexible cords
(5) Where concealed by walls, floors, or ceilings or located
above suspended or dropped ceilings.
The UL standard for flexible cords requires that a flexible cord be
capable of flexing 15,000 times. However, the other requirements are
less stringent than those for building wire and cables such as Romex or
NM cable.
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| Ryze Edup 2006-06-16, 9:42 am |
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"cdoc" <cdoc@msoms.com> wrote in message
news:fSokg.14252$gv2.12334@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
> Hello
> Here is my situation. I am placing a ceiling mount pole for a lcd monitor
> in my dental office. I have suspended ceilings. I need to get power to
> my monitor of course and I was planning on putting a standard outlet above
> the suspended ceiling and routing my power cable in the ceiling pole
> mount. Then plugging into the outlet.
> Is it within code to put an outlet in this area?
> Thanks in advance!
Stick it where evey you like.
Ryce Edup.
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| Pixmaker 2006-06-16, 9:42 am |
| Here in Florida, it's not uncommon to mount a duplex outlet directly into the ceiling board with the
outlet being fed through armored cable (BX) coming from wherever you can get the power. Use the same
tricks you use when installing a wall outlet in old work. Be careful. That ceiling board is
delicate.
That way, you end up with a ceiling-mounted duplex outlet near your monitor.
Pixmaker in FLL
===========================
It's not the heat, it's the humidity!
===========================
(Think the humidity's bad?
You should watch us vote!)
===========================
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| Actually, I was hoping I could mount it above the drop ceiling so I
could hide my wiring in the pole and plug the monitor in the outlet
above the drop ceiling.
Pixmaker wrote:
> Here in Florida, it's not uncommon to mount a duplex outlet directly into the ceiling board with the
> outlet being fed through armored cable (BX) coming from wherever you can get the power. Use the same
> tricks you use when installing a wall outlet in old work. Be careful. That ceiling board is
> delicate.
>
> That way, you end up with a ceiling-mounted duplex outlet near your monitor.
>
>
> Pixmaker in FLL
> ===========================
> It's not the heat, it's the humidity!
> ===========================
> (Think the humidity's bad?
> You should watch us vote!)
> ===========================
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| Paul Hovnanian P.E. 2006-06-16, 5:25 pm |
| cdoc wrote:
>
> Hello
> Here is my situation. I am placing a ceiling mount pole for a lcd
> monitor in my dental office. I have suspended ceilings. I need to get
> power to my monitor of course and I was planning on putting a standard
> outlet above the suspended ceiling and routing my power cable in the
> ceiling pole mount. Then plugging into the outlet.
> Is it within code to put an outlet in this area?
> Thanks in advance!
Probably not. The area above a suspended ceiling is often used for HVAC
air return and is considered to be similar to an air plenum (duct).
There are limitations on the materials and wiring methods allowed in
such areas. While it is possible to install wiring up to a device in
such a location, appliance cord itself is not approved for use in such
an area. Because of this, plug-in outlets are not permitted.
Install the outlet so that it is outside the raised ceiling area. Make
sure the wiring methods up to this point comply with NEC 300.22(C)(1) &
(2).
--
Paul Hovnanian mailto:Paul@Hovnanian.com
------------------------------------------------------------------
The large print giveth and the small print taketh away.
-- Tom Waits
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| electrician@electrician2.com 2006-06-16, 8:25 pm |
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cdoc wrote:
> Actually, I was hoping I could mount it above the drop ceiling so I
> could hide my wiring in the pole and plug the monitor in the outlet
> above the drop ceiling.
>
What you need is a standard power pole made for mounting from a
suspended ceiling to the floor equiped with receptacles. They also
come with partitions so you can also run your data cable in them. You
hard wire to the top of the power pole above the suspended ceiling
using standard building wiring methods such as MC cable. This is a
common method for wiring offices with suspended ceilings.
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