Wiring – Is running ethernet cable through an air return allowed under US code

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I'm looking to wire up the second floor of my house and the cold air return provides a convenient, straight run from the office to the utility room. Is it safe and within code to run ethernet cable in the air return?

The air returns are not metal ducts, they are just open cavities in the studs.

Scope of this question is purely limited to running network cable through an air return, decisions on wired/wireless and the various wired options have already been made.

Best Answer

National Electrical Code 2008

300.22 Wiring in Ducts, Plenums, and Other Air-Handling Spaces.
(B) Ducts or Plenums Used for Environmental Air. Only wiring methods consisting of Type MI cable, Type MC cable employing a smooth or corrugated impervious metal sheath without an overall nonmetallic covering, electrical metallic tubing, flexible metallic tubing, intermediate metal conduit, or rigid metal conduit without an overall nonmetallic covering shall be installed in ducts or plenums specifically fabricated to transport environmental air. Flexible metal conduit shall be permitted, in lengths not to exceed 1.2 m (4 ft), to connect physically adjustable equipment and devices permitted to be in these ducts and plenum chambers. The connectors used with flexible metal conduit shall effectively close any openings in the connection. Equipment and devices shall be permitted within such ducts or plenum chambers only if necessary for their direct action upon, or sensing of, the contained air. Where equipment or devices are installed and illumination is necessary to facilitate maintenance and repair, enclosed gasketed-type luminaires shall be permitted.

Which means, NO. The only wiring allowed in ducts, is wiring that is "necessary for their direct action upon, or sensing of, the contained air.".

Mike Holt explains it well in this YouTube video.

If you read article 725, you'll see that it references back to section 300.22.