Is securing cable to a wall without conduit allowed?

Is securing cable to a wall without conduit allowed?

• A. Yes, always
• B. No
• C. Yes, if above 10 feet
• D. Only if rated for outdoors

Answer: (C)

In alarm cabling, protection from damage and tampering guides how you secure conductors. An exception allows securing a cable directly to a wall without conduit only when the run is high enough—above ten feet—because at that height it’s unlikely to be reached or damaged. If the run is lower than that, you’d need to use conduit or another protective method to prevent damage or tampering. Outdoor-rated cable matters for exterior work, but the specific allowance here is the height threshold.

In alarm cabling, protection from damage and tampering guides how you secure conductors. An exception allows securing a cable directly to a wall without conduit only when the run is high enough—above ten feet—because at that height it’s unlikely to be reached or damaged. If the run is lower than that, you’d need to use conduit or another protective method to prevent damage or tampering. Outdoor-rated cable matters for exterior work, but the specific allowance here is the height threshold.