Riser cable

Q. Required use of "Riser Cable."
NEC Article 725.61 (B); NEC Article 760.61 (B); NEC Article 770.53 (B);
NEC Article 800.53 (B); NEC Article 830.55 (C); NEC Article 820.53 (B).
Cables installed in vertical runs that penetrate more than one floor, or cables installed in vertical runs in a shaft, shall be Type xxxR or xxxR. Floor penetrations requiring Type xxxR or xxxR shall contain only cables suitable for riser or plenum use. .

Our problem is that the NEC does not define "floor," and it appears to be defined differently in the UBC. Our building official defines "floor" as that area just below carpet up through the room, through the drop ceiling, through the concrete floor and up to the bottom of the carpet.

For example: If we are inspecting remodel work on the fourth floor of a seven-story building, , and we find cable going up to the fifth floor, we don't need riser cable. The building official does not consider this penetrating "more than one floor." He says that if we run cable up to the sixth floor, we would be installing a vertical run and penetrating more than one floor, and the contractor would need to use riser cable. Does the state concur with this definition?

A. Going from one floor level to another floor level is penetrating a floor and requires the riser-rated cable.
(Tri-County Electrical Code Forum September 11, 2003)

Q. I recently received a correction for not putting in a panel blank in a space that I did not knock out. My job was to wire a new A/C unit. The cable had been run during a previous remodel. I extended the 10/2 with ground cable from under the house to the A/C location. In the panel I upsized the breaker to the proper size and made up the breaker. The inspector denied the job, saying I needed to fill all empty breaker spaces - even though I did not remove them from the panel. If I assume full responsibility for the panel because I worked one circuit, how far does it go?

For example: A previous electrician added a 3-wire cable and did not put the hot wires on separate phases. Am I responsible for that, even though I didn't do the work?

A. An individual is responsible only for the work under his permit.
(Tri-County Electrical Code Forum September 11, 2003)