What considerations apply to wiring through finished walls?

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Wiring through finished walls must be routed in a protected, permanent path and not left exposed or loosely run. The key idea is to place conductors in a proper raceway or concealed within the wall, and to provide protection from physical damage while also respecting fill requirements so conductors have space to operate without overheating.

Using a raceway or concealment keeps wires protected from nails, screws, and impacts that can occur as walls are finished or finished surfaces are installed. It also makes it clear how many conductors can be in a given path, preventing overcrowding that could overheat the conductors. When a cable runs near edges of studs or other supports, protective plates (nail plates) are used to prevent damage from fasteners.

Why the other approaches don’t fit: running wires in exposed studs without any protection leaves them vulnerable to damage during finishing or later construction; trying to simplify routing by ignoring spacing and fill requirements would violate code limits and could lead to overheating or damage; and relying on flexible cords exclusively with no raceways is not allowed for permanent in-wall wiring, since cords are meant for temporary connections and not for fixed installations through walls.

So, the correct approach is to use proper raceways or concealed routes, protect conductors from damage, and maintain the required fill and protection throughout the finished wall.