620.21 Wiring Methods.

Modern elevator cars often have cord and plug connected advertising or display monitors.
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Modern elevator cars often have cord and plug connected advertising or display monitors.

Code Change Summary: A new exception was added in 620.21 to allow specific cords and cables to be without raceway protection.

Generally, conductors and cables in or on an elevator or in the hoistway (other than traveling cables) must be installed in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing, rigid nonmetallic conduit, or wireways, or shall be Type MC, MI, or AC cable.

A new exception was added in the 2014 NEC® to allow cords and cables of listed cord- and plug-connected equipment to be installed without a raceway. This new exception makes way for monitors, displays and other new technology that is listed for cord and plug connection. Without the exception, the only way to comply is to cut the cord end off in order to install the flexible cord inside the raceway.

Below is a preview of the NEC®.  See the actual NEC® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on the “free access” tab and select the applicable year of NFPA 70 (National Electrical code).

2011 Code Language:

620.21 Wiring Methods. Conductors and optical fibers located in hoistways, in escalator and moving walk wellways, in platform lifts, stairway chairlift runways, machinery spaces, control spaces, in or on cars, in machine rooms and control rooms, not including the traveling cables connecting the car or counterweight and hoistway wiring, shall be installed in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing, rigid nonmetallic conduit, or wireways, or shall be Type MC, MI, or AC cable unless otherwise permitted in 620.21(A) through (C).

2014 Code Language:

620.21 Wiring Methods. Conductors and optical fibers located in hoistways, in escalator and moving walk wellways, in platform lifts, stairway chairlift runways, machinery spaces, control spaces, in or on cars, in machine rooms and control rooms, not including the traveling cables connecting the car or counterweight and hoistway wiring, shall be installed in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing, rigid nonmetallic conduit, or wireways, or shall be Type MC, MI, or AC cable unless otherwise permitted in 620.21(A) through (C).

Exception: Cords and cables of listed cord- and plug-connected equipment shall not be required to be installed in a raceway.

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620.21 Wiring Methods.

Below is a Real Question from our Electrical Continuing Education Courses for Electrical License Renewal:

Which of the following wiring methods can be without a raceway?

A: Optical fiber cables in the hoistway.
B: Branch circuit conductors in the elevator machine room.
C: The flexible cord of a listed, cord and plug connected display monitor inside the elevator car.
D: Branch circuit conductors in the elevator pit.
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