A projector is mounted from the suspended ceiling in a retail store. It is mounted to a 1-1/2 PVC pipe which is secured to the building at a point above the ceiling grid. The PVC has grommeted holes below the grid and above to pass wires thru. The power cord is passed thru the pipe into the area above the grid, where it is plugged into a duplex mounted above the ceiling. The area above the grid is not used for an air plenum. Would this installation meet code?

Nope. Code has no exceptions for flexible cords above any kind of suspended ceiling.

FWIW, I had a similar job. I ran MC to a box, that was mounted to a piece of plywood that substituted for a ceiling tile. This box was used to mount a receptacle, which is where the projector got it's power.

An easy fix--- mount a receptacle facing down in the ceiling with one of these: 512
Use a 3/4" deep mud ring, and you're in

I agree with Reno and electure.

No cords in the ceiling.

Shouldn't questions regarding code compliance in this case end with the placement of the receptacle?

Is the projector cord considered "building wiring" and if not then is it subject to code rules?

(edited for grammer)

[This message has been edited by Helectric (edited 11-07-2006).]

(I assume this building passed inspection) The school I am in has this same setup. They use a 2x2 metal pan designed specifically for projectors. There is a pipe for the projector, a 2x4 KO for a duplex, and a grommeted area for the A/V cables. Just a guess, but it might be that the A/V cables are treated as network cables- they need to be rated if inside a plenum.

Interesting, but the NEC for good or bad has extended itself past the receptacles.

Here are a few 2005 NEC examples to look at

590.5

422.51

440.65

240.5

Something else to take into consideration is the age of the installation.
I think this prohibition was added in the '99 NEC (no book with me). If it was installed previous to that Code's adoption, it could very well have been inspected, and code compliant.

Not everything that doesn't meet the latest Code is a violation

The present installation is an extension cord run across the top of the grid to a wall, where it is poked thru to a wall duplex. The fire inspector said they have to change it, and said it would be ok set up the way I described it in my original post. Now I will have to tell them no matter what the fire inspector says, I can only do it to code. Thanks for the help everyone.