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Question by Steve Mayman posted 08 Jan 2005 |
| Conduit & Boxes in Commercial Construction |
Hi,
We will be installing Ethernet and telephone wiring in wood stud construction for an office with 6 workstations. If all cabling is within walls are we required to run the Cat 3 and Cat 5 cable in conduit, or can we just run the cable unsheathed? In either situation can we run the cables in the same conduit (or right next to each other)? Also, can we use plastic boxes to house the jacks or must we use metal for commercial construction? |
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Answer by Dmitri Abaimov posted 14 Jan 2005 |
Dear Steve,
CAT3 and CAT5(E) cables are of the same circuit class per NEC, and can easily co-exist in the same conduit as well as the same outlet box. Plastic will do just as fine, as long as it is rated for the environment you are using it in (it is hard to buy ones that are NOT rated these days, but better make sure). I actually prefer dealing with plastic boxes as they do not cut cable's jacket (and fingers!!!) as easily.
Sincerely,
Dmitri Abaimov, RCDD |
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