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#204391 12/06/11 02:41 PM
Photo11151011_1.jpg
Joined: Apr 2002
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Not nice work!

Data/comm wiring at a recent office tenant fit-out.
Studs are 2x3, sleeve at top area is plumbing PVC
Lots more of violations!
10 Comments
HotLine1 #204392 12/06/11 02:41 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
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Sorry, the sleeve mentioned is not visable in this pic.


John
HotLine1 #210890 08/17/13 11:01 AM
Joined: Jul 2013
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What do you expect? Data runners are the worse. They don't follow the standard, mostly schleps who run the cable. Infuriates me. This is one instance where I wish electrical inspectors could enforce something.

HotLine1 #210891 08/17/13 01:31 PM
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Looks like a normal installation to me. 99% of LV installers do not believe the NEC applies to them.

Even it it was perfect when you inspected it, a year later it will be a rats nest.
If you really want to see a hell hole, pull a raised floor tile.


Greg Fretwell
HotLine1 #210901 08/19/13 10:34 AM
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I was berated by an Inspector for some sloppy conduit work one day on the jobsite.
I showed him that the conduit/j-boxes that ticked him off were part of the data system and explained that when I told the installer that he was doing it wrong I was told "The NEC doesn't apply to data wiring" and stormed off.
The Inspector apologized to me, sought out the data installer and tore him a new bodily orifice. The end result was that he had to tear out and redo major parts of his work (at no expense to the Owner).
Every once in a while I am soooo grateful for nitpicking Inspectors.
smile


Ghost307
ghost307 #210905 08/20/13 12:56 AM
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Ghost:
FWIW the office renov in the pic was stopped until the LV/data/comm corrected that mess. All LV in renov jobs will conform to NEC, have required permits, & get rough,above ceiling & final

I'm not a nit picker , can't fail for 'sloppy'; but it will be compliant

Just keep in mind that this is for jobs that have active permits, & unfortunately does not catch the night specials


John
HotLine1 #210906 08/20/13 02:15 AM
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I have seen dozens of computer room rebuilds and hundreds of massive recabling jobs. The only one I ever saw a permit for was the one IBM did here in Ft Myers.


Greg Fretwell
HotLine1 #210907 08/20/13 10:42 AM
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No offense intended, John.
I am a firm believer in doing it right so it doesn't have to be done over.


Ghost307
HotLine1 #210908 08/20/13 02:19 PM
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Greg:
LV, data/comm, A/v, BA, FA,Card access, Energy Mgt., etc all require permits.
I' m not saying everyone complies, but that is the reg.

As far as messes, I have seen a lot over the years.

We recently had a raised floor office (130k sq ft) that suffered flood damages, and that is a mess no more( including above the drop ceiling)


John
HotLine1 #210909 08/20/13 05:59 PM
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Out of sight, out of mind.
I have seen all sorts of things behind those moveable panels, up or down.
The biggest problem under raised floors was abandoned cables.
The standard IBM "cable box" was 3x3x2 feet on pads so you could pick it up with a fork truck. I saw 20 of them come out of one computer room floor when we finally decided to start fresh.
The problem is they usually have incremental changes and they try to minimize down time. You really do not want to just start yanking on cables when the system is up. You may pull something loose you didn't want to. Back in the day, an interface cable was 1" in diameter (2 per interface) and 40-100 feet long. It goes over or under a lot of other stuff. They usually just shoved the ends under the floor and pulled in a new one if it wasn't going where they wanted.
Then there were just the people who used the raised floor for storage.


Overhead it was usually coax, serial port or RS422 cable but you might see some orange cords.


Greg Fretwell
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