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Under carpet wiring

B

bill1952

SAWHORSE
Joined
Aug 12, 2021
Messages
2,824
Location
Clayton NY
I've faced this several times in renovating theatres. How to power aisle lights - lights on aisle chairs in a theatre - without having to cut trenches in existing slabs. Just wondering if anyone has ever seen or heard of a code compliant flat 120 vac wiring for under carpet. Seems improbable but I just need to be sure as I can before saying start cutting.

How about 12 or 24 v?

Thank you!
 
Check out "Flat Conductor Cable: Type FCC," covered by NEC article 324. Although these people say it is "garbage":

Flat Conductor Cable Type FCC

My company has a client who would like us to look into designing the connections to some desks in the middle a floor using FCC. The floor covering will be 12" x 12" carpet tiles. My issue is I cannot find any manufacturers of the FCC and the associated fittings. I know AMP used to make it...
forums.mikeholt.com

Cheers, Wayne
 
I’ve run into this problem in a few older theatres, and sadly there’s no magic “flat 120V under-carpet” wiring that’s code-compliant. Anything carrying mains voltage has to be protected, not just hidden. What does work is switching the aisle lights to low-voltage—12V or 24V—and running Class 2 wiring under carpet transitions or along seat rails. It still takes planning, but it avoids trenching and keeps inspectors happy.
 
The code requires the floor be illuminated to .2 fc. A light strip - LED tape light today - at edge facing up will not illuminate the floor. I've spent a lot of time with light meters measuring this and simply no way can "floor mounted low-profile LED strips in a suitable transparent encasement for the aisle lighting" can provide "The means of egress illumination level shall be not less than 1 footcandle (11 lux) at the walking surface. Along exit access stairways, exit stairways and at their required landings, the illumination level shall not be less than 10 footcandles (108 lux) at the walking surface when the stairway is in use." Yes, in a theatre it can be reduced to 0.2 FC. It still requires light shining onto the floor, not upwards.
 
I believe that is done in arenas but it's a huge distraction I performing arts when a person enters or exits during the show. Kind of destroys the show when they pop up highlighted.
 
People should no be traveling in any isle during any peformance except in an emergency, they are distractions and disrespectful. End of rant
 
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