I was talking with My BO the other day and he was involved in a discussion about cords run through ceiling tiles to plug in projectors hung from a suspended ceiling with the receptacle above. This is prohibited by 400.8(2) but as I read further, I stopped at 400.8(5) which seem to prohibit ANY cords above a suspended ceiling. This concerns me since more than once I have had an Air Handler installed above the ceiling and the mechanical contractor has used a cord connected pump to get the condensate out of the building. have had other instances like this on other occasions.
So, while I know of no article that prohibits receptacles above a ceiling, this article seems to prohibit any permanent cord connected devices from being installed above a ceiling.

I would love some imput.

Your last sentence says it. Receps above susp. ceiling is allowed, you just can't plug anything in!

400.7 may allow the condensate pump - "Appliances where the fastening means and mechanical connections are specifically designed to permit ready removal for maintenance and repair, and the appliance is intended or identified for flexible cord connection"

I agree with the above statements. A receptacle outlet above the ceiling would facilitate temporary cord-and-plug connection for maintenance and repair issues. A good example would be Section 210.63 of the NEC / Section 306.3.1 of the FMC which require a receptacle at an air handler above a drop ceiling.

Flexible cords and cables directly assoicated with the operation of the appliance like condensate pumps, or condensate float switches would be permitted under the 400.7 criteria as mentioned by Nick.

It may seem like a fine line, but the generally accepted practices...

Yes, I saw 400.7 and in the past that is how I have addressed condensate pumps but I have to wonder that the statement in 400.7 is a general statement and 400.8(5) is specific to a particular location (installation). I was always taught that a specific code overrules a general one.

One or both articles could probably use some tweaking.

One thing to watch for is a plenum ceiling. Then it is a
"no way" for the cord and the pump as well.

I think the final answer is as someone at the NE Fl. IAEI meeting pointed out, that the beginning of 400.8 says "Unless specifically permitted in 400.7...." which tells me that 400.7(8) would prevail and this, in turn, would allow it if it was an appliance as describe there. Interesting, this would also probably make it allowable for security cameras to have their cords run up through the ceiling...

That would most definitely not be permitted. You can never run a cord through a suspended ceiling.

If I follow the post correctly, your original question had the scenario of a condensate pump (already above the ceiling) being plugged in (above ceiling), and now you are talking about a camera (below ceiling) running the cord through the ceiling tile and plugging it in (above ceiling).

Not permitted. See 400.8.

Reminds me of last week where the local gas station was running extension cords in the suspended ceiling to power up the new beer neon signs.
I guess that would be okay. Ha Ha

If you read 400.8, you would think that No cords could be run through a ceiling, but since 400.8 excepts ALL of the permitted uses of 400.7, you have to read 400.7(8) which reads
"Appliances where the fastening means and the mechanical connections are specifically designed to permit ready removal for maintenance and repair, and the appliance is intended or identified for flexible cord connection."
You either would have to say that fit this description are exempt from 400.8 or that 400.8 prevails in certain conditions (contrary to the opening sentence of 400.8).
Extension cord are independent of the appliance and so that is not relevant. Did you check to see if the cord was within 20 feet of the pump?

Last note on this, I write to NFPA on this and got a most interesting response from Mark Cloutier as follows:

This is in reply to your email concerning the National Electrical Code® 2008. The NFPA electrical staff cannot approve a particular design or arrangement, however I can provide some general remarks.



Section 400.7 (A) specifies the permitted uses for cords. Where using flexible cord for any of the permitted uses in 400.7(A), the restrictions in 400.8 also have to be followed. Flexible cords and cables are required to be used in accordance with Table 400.4, which identifies the permitted uses for the cord types covered by the NEC®. Section 400.8 (5) prohibits flexible cords (such as the 120V power cord from the condensation pump to the receptacle outlet) from being located above suspended or dropped ceilings. Similarly, 400.8 (2) prohibits flexible cords (such as the 120V power cord from the security camera to the receptacle outlet) from being run through holes in suspended or dropped ceilings. However, the NEC® does not prohibit receptacle outlets from being installed above suspended ceilings for use during maintenance of equipment located above such ceilings.





Mark Cloutier

NFPA Senior Electrical Engineer