The size and type of job will dictate how many above ceiling electrical inspections are likely to take place. For a commercial job such as a multi-story office building or airport terminal, the inspector will be called to inspect electrical work above the ceiling many times as the electrician completes work in each area of the building. For a small business office in a strip mall, the electrical inspector will want to come out once to inspect all electrical work above the ceiling after all electrical wiring methods have been installed, but before any ceiling tiles are in place.

When an inspector approves the electrical work above the ceiling, the inspector is assuming that after the inspection is over, the ceiling tiles will be installed soon after with no additional electrical work needing to be done in that area above the ceiling. Never modify or add more electrical in an area above the ceiling that was approved by the inspector after the inspector leaves unless another inspection occurs.

Before requesting an above ceiling electrical inspection, be sure to have the below items ready. The below list is general and does not address every possible type of installation:

• Have the inspector come out after the electrical work is done but before any ceiling tiles, insulation, or sheetrock is installed. The inspector prefers no ceiling tiles installed during this inspection because they can hinder the view of electrical work installed above the ceiling. The inspector would like to walk from room to room and look above the ceiling without the need to set up a ladder in each room to remove ceiling tiles for the inspection.
• Install and properly support all electrical boxes above ceiling. Make sure there is proper access to all boxes and box covers.
• Ground all metal boxes and enclosures. Unless the inspector plans to open boxes and remove devices at the final inspection, this above ceiling inspection is the only time the grounding of the boxes can easily be seen.
• Pull and terminate all conductors.
• Make sure all ungrounded conductors in boxes are properly identified as required in NEC^® 210.5(C) when branch circuits are supplied from more than one nominal voltage system. Some jobs will have both 120/208V systems and 277/480V systems. For these situations, specific colors of wires are likely to be used such as black, red, blue, white for 120/208V circuits and brown, orange, yellow, grey for 277/480V circuits.
• Make sure all grounded conductors are properly identified as required in NEC^® 200.6(A).
• Make sure all knockouts in boxes are sealed.
• Install all box covers. The electrical inspector will likely ask that a few boxes be opened temporarily during inspection for verification of grounding, box fill, conductor identification, and the like.
• Install, secure, and support all electrical conduits and cables according to the applicable NEC^® Article depending on which type of raceways or cables are used.
• Install all recessed lighting.
• Properly secure all luminaires that are installed into the ceiling grid per NEC^® 410.36(B). Screws or listed clips are required when luminaires are installed into the grid ceiling. If using the clips that are factory installed on a listed lay-in luminaire, be sure to fold them over to catch the edge of the grid ceiling member. Watch out for the ceiling tile installer who will fold them back flat and out of the way when they are installing the ceiling tiles. For this reason, many inspectors will require screws to secure the luminaire instead of the factory installed clips.
• Properly support all luminaires that are installed into the ceiling grid per the plans and the ASTM standard for the suspended ceiling (ASTM C636). The plans will likely require at least two 10-gauge or 12-gauge bare grid wires per lay-in luminaire for support depending on seismic design category for the region. For other luminaires such as recessed can lights or grid mounted emergency/exit fixtures, the plans will likely require at least one 10-gauge or 12-gauge bare grid wire to each fixture for support.
• If the water piping, gas piping, or other metallic piping will be bonded at a location above the ceiling, do it before the inspection.
• Remove all temporary construction lighting before the ceiling tiles are installed. Some inspectors will want it removed before the above ceiling inspection can be approved.
• Make sure there are no flexible cords used above the suspended ceiling to comply with NEC^® 400.12. This also means that condensate pumps installed above the ceiling will need to be hard-wired.
• Make sure that plenum rated wiring methods are installed if the above ceiling space is constructed as a plenum.
• Properly firestop all electrical penetrations through rated walls above the ceiling grid.
• Make sure proper working space is provided and compliant with NEC^® 110.26(A)(4) for all disconnect switches installed above the suspended ceiling.

Below is a preview of the NEC^® (NFPA 70). See the actual NEC^® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the edition of the NEC^® being enforced.

NEC 200.6 Means of Identifying Grounded Conductors.

(A) Sizes 6 AWG or Smaller. An insulated grounded conductor of 6 AWG or smaller shall be identified by one of the following means:

(1) A continuous white outer finish.

(2) A continuous gray outer finish.

(3) Three continuous white or gray stripes along the conductor's entire length on other than green insulation.

(4) Wires that have their outer covering finished to show a white or gray color but have colored tracer threads in the braid identifying the source of manufacture shall be considered as meeting the provisions of this section.

(5) The grounded conductor of a mineral-insulated, metal sheathed cable (Type MI) shall be identified at the time of installation by distinctive marking at its terminations.

(B) Sizes 4 AWG or Larger. An insulated grounded conductor 4 AWG or larger shall be identified by one of the following means:

(1) A continuous white outer finish.

(2) A continuous gray outer finish.

(3) Three continuous white or gray stripes along the conductor's entire length on other than green insulation.

(4) At the time of installation, by a distinctive white or gray marking at its terminations. This marking shall encircle the conductor or insulation.

NEC 210.5(C)(1) Branch Circuits Supplied from More Than One Nominal Voltage System. Where the premises wiring system has branch circuits supplied from more than one nominal voltage system, each ungrounded conductor of a branch circuit shall be identified by phase or line and system at all termination, connection, and splice points in compliance with 210.5(C)(1)(a) and (b).

(a) Means of Identification. The means of identification shall be permitted to be by separate color coding, marking tape, tagging, or other approved means.

NEC 410.36 (B) Suspended Ceilings. Framing members of suspended ceiling systems used to support luminaires shall be securely fastened to each other and shall be securely attached to the building structure at appropriate intervals. Luminaires shall be securely fastened to the ceiling framing member by mechanical means such as bolts, screws, or rivets. Listed clips identified for use with the type of ceiling framing member(s) and luminaire(s) shall also be permitted.