Firestopping exposed wires and cables

An “almost perfect” firestopping system isn’t good enough when a fire starts in a building. There are several reasons for providing firestopping for wires and cables. It may be a requirement of the building code, or of an insurance carrier or a building owner that wants to minimize the risk associated with fire spreading from one part of the building to another.

Unlisted cables and the NEC

Data and communications cabling installed in a building is required to be listed per the National Electrical Code (NEC). Unlisted cables need to transition to a listed cable through the use of a splice or termination after entering a building. How soon does this transition have to take place? Can the transition from an unlisted to listed cable be extended into a building? This article provides ...

Bonding conduit sleeves

This article discusses where and how the NEC requires bonding and grounding for conduit sleeves.

Unlocking the code

This article will analyze the NEC for wired systmes, and examine related International Building Code (IBC), NFPA, and standards that may influence the design. The areas of interest will primarily concern the specialty wired systems of data, telephone, and fiber optics that rely on limited amounts of the general code requirements.

Data center or telecom room?

Capital costs and operating costs are two of the biggest concerns for building owners and operators. For new and retrofitted buildings, the capital cost of construction can determine whether a project can proceed or not. Whether a facility contains a large or small amount of technology equipment, the proper interpretation and application of the code is imperative to avoid inflating capital construction costs through the design and construction process.