ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Low Voltage in patient care ceilings

517.80 of the NEC states:

Equivalent insulation and isolation to that required for the electrical distribution systems in patient care areas shall be provided for communications, signaling systems, data system circuits, fire alarm systems, and systems less than 120 volts, nominal.

FPN: An acceptable alternate means of providing isolation for patient/nurse call systems is by the use of nonelectrified signaling, communications, or control.

Would this mean all low voltage in a accessible drop ceiling located over a patient care area would need to be in EMT or FMC? And by insulation do they mean a literal interpretation ie; THHN THWN?

Any input would be appreciated, thanks

The short answer is yes.
There may be some mitigating factor somewhere but I always saw THHN in pipe for nurse calls and such.