This picture - please forgive the poor quality - shows new construction. The customer has added a receptacle above the dropped ceiling 'just in case' he later wants to add something above the ceiling.

In other words, he's deliberately planning to violate 400.8 (5), which bans flexible cords above dropped ceilings.

[Linked Image]

With the things we place above ceilings ... HVAC equipment, heat trace tape, alarm panels ... as well as the stuff that gets hung from the ceilings ... lights, projectors, etc .... is it time to reconsider this ban?