We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Not only does plenum cable burn less readily but it also produces much less smoke and is far safer if it does eventually lite. 2: An example of a label is 52V @ 0.433A, 56V MAX for an IEEE 802.3 compliant Class 8 power source.. FPL cable is not shielded. Riser cables are better to use in settings . Love working with them! Performance & security by Cloudflare. When in doubt, consult the NFPA National Electrical Code. Anything other than pure copper cables will result in diminishing quality and can fail to meet your ethernet cable spec. We have been asked, primarily by our customers, what the requirements are for running pvc-jacketed cable or riser-rated cable into a building. Very good people. The ability to utilize air-handling spaces for cable and equipment installation without conduit lowers cost. Even gnarlier would be MPO-24 to MPO-8 break outs for getting the most out of 100GBASE-SR4 interconnections, given the amount of attention STH gives to 100+ Gbps networking. Riser cable can also produce noxious or even toxic smoke as it burns. If you look at some network cable, you can see which type it is: CMP: Plenum rated cable (plenum means "air handling space") CMR: Riser rated cable (riser means "between floors") LSZH: Low smoke zero halogen rated cable; Your current selection is Global (EN) . Territories, Audrey Larsen joins SAVI as Inside Sales Coordinator. Class 2 and Class 3 circuit conductors shall be permitted in the same cable with communications circuits, in which case the Class 2 and Class 3 circuits shall be classified as communications circuits and shall meet the requirements of this article. In simplified terms: it is the space above a buildings dropped ceiling or below a raised floor that gets used for heating, ventilation or air conditioning often known as HVAC. Plenum rated cable has a special insulation that has low smoke and low flame characteristics. Flame-retardant tests measure flame propagation for both horizontal and vertical applications. The definition of flame-retardant cable is a cable that will not convey or propagate a flame as defined by the flame-retardant or propagation tests. Enter email address to subscribe to our blog and receive new posts by email. Latest software release is packed with new dealer and customer features to dramatically simplify programming and end-user management of commercial AV systems. I continually hear positive feedback from our clients with regards to how nice it is to work with our support team.Our business has changed over the years and admittedly we are not a fit for everyone. Depending on your jurisdiction, you may need to simply show that your cable is plenum-rated. If there is no sheet metal duct; just the open ceiling or wall space, then you are required by law to use Plenum Rated cable. But these exceptions all address outside-plant distribution cable, not plenum- or riser-rated cable. We strive to earn their trust and to become their trusted advisors regarding all things IT.If you are in need of good people, who will have your back and take care of your IT needs with the care that they have for their own, then don't hesitate to give us a call. (214) 785-6510 (Option 2) Improving Public Safety with Venue Security, Identity Management Day: The Importance of Identity Security, How to Conduct a Physical Security Audit for Your Workplace. Excellent service overall. As a result, if one runs cable through air-filled spaces (like air ducts, or areas above ceiling tiles that are part of the air distribution system), not through conduit, plenum cabling must be used. . If a person will be breathing the air in a space or the air in the space will be mixed directly with air in the HVAC system then the space is a plenum. Most of the time you will be able to see the actual word plenum somewhere in the feature list. There is some confusion online about what exactly constitutes a plenum space because it is normally defined in the HVAC context. Typically plenum cable is going to be more expensive, and it is going to be less flexible than riser cable. On this blog post we will focus on one of those terms and that is Plenum cable. For those folks and in the context we care about, a plenum is an air-filled space in a structure that often receives air for distribution. Insulation is the material that covers your ethernet cables copper wires. We have touched on this before in this article but one of the first things that should be prioritized when shopping for plenum cable is certification. Companies may choose plenum cable as a way to lower liabilities associated with fires because plenum cable will be the safer option in the case of a fire. If you see things like OFNP LSZH or OFNR LSZH in a cable (or no LSZH!) If you had astatine compounds in your cable jackets I think youd have a much bigger problem that what decomposition products are made in a fire. The listing requirements for Limited Power (LP) Cables are in Section 725.179(I) in the 2017 NEC. Listing requirements for plenum, riser, general-purpose and limited-use, communications, cable TV and network-powered broadband communications cables have been removed from Article 805 (formerly Article 800), Article 820, and Article 830 and placed in the new Article 800 in order to reduce the redundancy in cable listing requirements in Chapter 8. Dallas, TX February 22, 2023 SAVI Controls, designer and manufacturer of commercial AV control, Audiovisual collaboration tech - the standard in today's working environment Collaboration is present in most peoples everyday work life. Since in-rack we often see DACs (direct attach copper) used, many starting from smaller installations do not deal with this. I have a large real estate portfolio with tenants who constantly have data/cabling/IT/security needs and Steve never disappoints. Code Organization, Section 90.3 permits Chapters 5 through 7 to supplement or modify the requirements of Chapters 1 through 7; consequently, the requirements of 725.3(P) and 760.3(O) override the requirements of Section 250.119. So, when do you need to use plenum rated cables? is a plenum grade, PVC-based jacketing material with low smoke and low flame spread properties. This helps protect the cable and can help allow for future expansion. I am sure it is made of a different material as smurf tube is not permitted in a plenum. Related: in buildings outside cities it can be a requirement to run all cabling thru metal conduits. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Industrial HiVision - Annual Maintenance Plan, Digital I/O Modules for Industrial Ethernet, FiberExpress ECX Fiber Patch Panel System, FiberExpress UHD/Ultra Fiber Patch Panel System, California Information Sharing Disclosure, Fiber Cable Ratings Selecting Riser Vs Plenum, A plenum cable can be used in a riser space, but a riser cable generally. I think that says something about a company. In recent years, the cost of plenum cable has come down, but theyre still more expensive than equivalent riser-rated cables. These spaces allow primary utilities to be distributed vertically (elevator shafts and conduits that run from one floor to another are risers, for example). Mike, our sales guy is always helpful and goes out of his way to make sure things get done. They are very responsive, always competitive with pricing, and I have never had a tenant complain about their work. The reason for this series is that fiber is going to be required for many long runs in the future, especially if one wants to get solid speeds. I started working with physical network infrastructure back in 2009. (1) Communications Cables. Still, many existing buildings do not have conduits or conduit space to run fiber or other cables. 800.27 Temperature Limitation of Wires and CablesNote that the requirement in Section 800.27 is simplified. Definitions of terms used in multiple articles in Chapter 8 have been moved to the new general article (Article 800). Fluoropolymers Fluoropolymers, with the exception of PTFE Teflon (sometimes called TFE), are extrudable thermoplastics used in a variety of low-voltage insulating Information Note No. Professionally I have to deal with NFPA 99: Health Care Facilities, and equivalent ICC standards, which expands the NEC requirements for medical facilities. Get the best of STH delivered weekly to your inbox. In addition to HVAC usage, plenum spaces are often used to house networking cables being run throughout a building. phone, security, cabling, etc.). Top notch company with outstanding service. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Many projects will use non-plenum cabling to save on costs; however, it is ultimately up to the building owner or the goverment codes and regulations on whether or not to use plenum vs. non-plenum cabling. Plenum plastics also will not emit large quantities of harmful fumes. 2023 Endeavor Business Media, LLC. In a nutshell plenum rated cable is required where running through a space that air flows through, such as a suspended cieling used for air return, or through a stud bay that is used for air return. The text of Section 725.121(C) in the 2020 NEC states: (C) Marking. We hope this article on what is plenum cable was helpful. 2023 Infinity Cable Products. They have always been there to help! A great rule of thumb is to think about the air in the space. At its root, plenum refers to "full space" and most of its varying definitions pertain to a separate enclosed space that is set apart from surrounding areas. The NEC restricts the types of materials that can go into these plenum airways to mitigate fire spread. The plenum spaces are those that lie between a drop and standard ceiling (or a similar version in the floor space) and it is this section where the air in a building circulates, thus aiding in heating and cooling functions. Learn how your comment data is processed. To quote Moore's article: "The basis for the circuit survivability requirements [that began in NFPA 72 1999 through NFPA 72 2013] depended on the availability of two-hour fire-rated cable, called Type CI, that met the requirements of UL 2196. The paper does not set forth the views of any member or any other party, nor may it be taken as such. This allows you to use the much cheaper riser-rated cable. Using data/comm cables for providing power in addition to communicating/signaling has been a hot topic in the data/comm industry. This was obviously written with power cables in mind. I have been employed with the company for 25 years. If you have riser or plenum rated cables, they are slower to burn and produce less smoke than PVC and are rated to be installed in plenum areas (any area with return air). What is Plenum Fiber Optic Cable and What is OFNP. Among the changes from the 2017 edition, a new general article in Chapter 8 consolidates redundant requirements. They have made supportive criticisms both to what we need and what they feel we do not. Very responsive to customer needs. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Reno, NV A: The 50-foot rule is in nec 800-50, Listing, Marking, and Installation of Communications Wires and Cables, which says that communications cables installed in buildings shall be listed as being suitable for the purpose. Ste 100 It will tell you which cable type can be used where. Class 1 circuits shall not be run in the same cable with communications circuits. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Optimize | Modernize | Automate | Secure. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This is helping quite a bit. A plenum space is the one between raised floors and dropped ceilings of a building. In the construction of office buildings, cables are often installed before construction is completed. A quick Google found this: http://www.cableorganizer.com/kwikpath/plenum-raceways.htm. Keep this setting or select from other options. Highly recommend. They are very knowledgeable , prompt and pay attention to my needs. Now, lets discuss the basis of the problem. A plenum-rated cable (CMP) actually refers to the coating around the cable, not the cable itself (coaxial, Cat5e/Cat6 ethernet, HDMI, etc.). CN is a reliable company with very knowledgeable and experienced employees. Everyday new options are being introduced into the electrical market. In order to alert users to this issue, the 2017 NEC added Informational Notes to Articles 770 (optical fiber cables), 800 (communications cables) and 820 (CATV coaxial cables). Im sure that this situation causes a lot of confusion and leads many people to wonder if they need plenum or riser cable for home use. Suite 100 We know there are those who run fiber through air ducts, and we are not going to cover that here, but one can imagine the impact of a fire there as well. We previously used drop ceilings as an example of plenum spaces, but this isnt always the case! Common plenum spaces include below raised floors and above dropped ceilings. plenum is a word in this context that many readers will not be familiar with, especially for those whose English is a second language. It's a great business to work with! Just like Chapter 3, Wiring Methods and Materials, has a general article, Article 300, General Requirements for Wiring Methods and Materials, Chapter 8, Communications Systems, now has a general article, Article 800, General Requirements for Communications Systems. A big factor impacting fiber cable selection is the installation space: Different environments call for different types of cables in order to ensure performance, installation ease and safety. 800.44 Overhead (Aerial) Wires and Cables, 800.53 Separation from Lightning Conductors. Most building inspectors are consistent in what they require, but fire inspectors seem to vary with their moods. Typically the x will be a N for fiber optic cable you purchase which means that we have: One other common marking you may want to look for is LSZH that you can find in conjunction with OFNR and OFNP fiber cables. So we are starting our series with What is Plenum Fiber Optic Cable.. The key challenge with fiber optic networking is that it is an absolute pain for a beginner to get into. I have worked with numerous talented people throughout the years. Please note product availability varies by region. Dallas, TX October 12, 2022 SAVI Controls, designer and manufacturer of commercial AV control, For sales inquiries: These are few of the reasons why I plan on continuing to be a satisfied customer of CN for the foreseeable future. Generally, riser cable is only required when you are running the cable between floors or firewalls but I have seen jurisdictions that are more strict about this. This cable is usually designated by "CMP" In the 2020 NEC, the 50 volt exception in 250.119 has been changed to be 50 volts AC or 60 volts DC in order to accommodate PoE. If you would like to save the money and go with a cable that does not have any fire rating at all make sure you check with your local building codes first. Typically, spaces between the structural flooror a droppedceiling are considered plenum. View the Computers Nationwide offices in the Greater Chicagoland area, Greater Madison Area, and Greater Milwaukee Area below: 1175 Corporate Woods Pkwy Trusted partner in industrial automation, infrastructure connectivity & cybersecurity solutions. (214) 785-6510 (Option 1) Although a car accident may never occur, youll rest easy knowing it offers better protection if something does happen. Consequently, Section 250.119 does not apply to communications circuits because that section is not referenced in Chapter 8. Find out what that means for cable selection! Plenum rated cable goes through extensive flame tests to adhere to UL and National fire Protection Association standards. Plenum is a term used by contractors, engineers, and HVAC technicians and is defined as a space used for air/ heating ventilation and circulation think air ducts in a drop ceiling. Non-plenum cable or polyvinyl chloride cable is often less much less expensive than plenum cable. Stanley Kaufman, Ph.D. is principal of CableSafe Inc. and a consultant to the Communications Cable and Connectivity Association (CCCA). There isit looks like smurf tube (Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing), but orange in color. Our support staff genuinely care about our clients and their staff. I personally wouldn't worry too much about it, though, in a house. DC-DC power converters support critical voltage needs of automation devices, PoE Types, Classes and RP Categories Explained, Multitenant Data Centers are Key to Managing Data Without Breaking the Bank, The LANscape Solutions Bill-of-Materials Tool, Horn, dish, panel and asymmetric horn Wi-Fi 6E point-to-point antennas, Sertex builds community-owned fiber broadband network in southeastern VT, Prysmian positions Ecoslim reduced-diameter telecom fiber system for sustainability, nCompass Systems partners Legrand, Superior Essex celebrate 10-year milestone, Powering the Future of Commercial Buildings Webinar (registration for live event). The installation of Class 2 and Class 3 circuits in communications cables is covered in 2017 NEC Sections 725.139(D)(1) and 800.133(A)(b). It is a cable jacket fire resistance rating defined in Article 800 of the NEC. Computers Nationwide helped up with a few safety grant projects over the past year, and have been extremely attentive and helpful. Legally, it is required by National electrical Code NEC if youre installing any cabling in plenum areas. Plenum is a space used for heating/cooling airflow. The 2020 NEC now explicitly permits optional cable markings. This ensures that your plenum cables have the proper materials to perform to their desired spec. Plenum quality cable is required for use if you run your cable in air handling spaces (i.e. Recognizing 60 volt DC circuits is a step in the right direction but still inadequate because it does not encompass all Class 2, Class 3 circuits permitted in Tables 11(A), 11(B) in Chapter 9, and all power-limited fire alarm circuits permitted by Tables 12(A) and 12(B) in Chapter 9. We are starting a new series on STH as a guide to fiber optic networking. Inside buildings of all types from schools and hospitals to corporate and hospitality venues cables are often deployed in plenum and riser spaces. Although widely used in the industry, the term data/comm cables does not appear in the NEC. CCCA makes no warranty regarding the accuracy of the information provided in this paper, and expressly disclaims any implied warranties and any liability for use of the paper or reliance on views expressed in it. In most plenum airspaces, air ducts are used to connect the HVAC unit and the supply vents to distribute the air supply throughout a building. A lot of times when conduit is not installed, plenum cable is required because the cable is freely installed. For our readers, hopefully, this helped explain what a fiber optic plenum cable is. A plenum is the pathway or space used to circulate air as part of a buildings HVAC system (the space is often located between the structural ceiling and drop-down ceiling, but plenum spaces are also found underneath a raised floor). This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The information included here should not be used in place of information provided by national or local fire codes. Riser cables are generally more cost-effective than plenum and meet the fire resistance standards of the NFPA. 64.225.74.170 The cables used to run through these plenum spaces are referred to as Plenum Cable or abbreviated as CMP. This category only includes cookies that ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website. Fiber is often used to span multiple racks, or multiple rooms. Instead, you can run that same cable through multiple areas using the same product, which is shown in the NEC substation chart for fiber cables. Information Note No. There are some exceptions: The most important and most obvious change is that Chapter 8 has a new general article. The code In our area reference the the International Codes Council (https://www.iccsafe.org) standards.So a more appropriate statement might be applicable building and or fire protection codes and standards. I am aware that, according to the National Electrical Code (nec), no pvc-jacketed cable can run in an air-return space, Belden unveils UL-certified hybrid cable for Class 4 circuits in smart buildings, PODCAST: USGBC expert talks ESG essentials for smart buildings, Multitenant Data Centers are Key to Managing Data Without Breaking the Bank, The LANscape Solutions Bill-of-Materials Tool, Horn, dish, panel and asymmetric horn Wi-Fi 6E point-to-point antennas, Sertex builds community-owned fiber broadband network in southeastern VT, Prysmian positions Ecoslim reduced-diameter telecom fiber system for sustainability, EXFO 'Context' dynamic topology improves mobile network ops across Africa, Graybar announces 2023 executive leadership changes, including VP of technology, AFL hosts fiber plant tour for local Women in Manufacturing chapter, Cabling the Spine-and-Leaf Network Switch Fabric Architecture. Plenum space is an HVAC industry term that describes any part of a building where heating and air conditioning passes through. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cabling-Installation-and-Maintenance/298118662118, Q: As cabling contractors, we run into requests for proposals that require plenum or polyvinyl chloride (pvc)-jacketed cable. I doubt you could find many US high school graduates who would be able to define plenum. The 2020 NEC, which replaces the 2017 NEC, was issued by the NFPA in August, 2019. I am the owner of Mainstream Boutique in New Lenox and during our build out, Dave always came to us.. We never had to go to his office. There are some exceptions: Listing is not required where the cable enters the building from the outside and is continuously enclosed in a rigid or an intermediate metal conduit. #1 When running Class 2 / Class 3 / CM cable inside a metal conduit in an air return plenum above a suspended ceiling, is plenum rated cable required inside that metal conduit? While Cat8 Ethernet cable is rated for up to 40Gbps, . Definitions used in multiple articles (other than just Chapter 8) have been moved to the definitions section in Chapter 1. The 2017 NEC was the first edition of the NEC to address this issue, which includes, but is not limited to, Power over Ethernet (PoE). Cabling between the many devices and to the users runs through this open floor space. Computers Nationwide (CN) provides quality service at a good value. If you do not see a rating anywhere on the cable it likely does not have any fire rating at all and would be considered CM or generic communication cable. However, while cable choices are abundant, you may find yourself in a situation where you dont have a choice at all. When its required by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): For more information on how to save you and your end-users time and money, check out the entire, contractors, engineers, and HVAC technicians, Best Audiovisual Collaboration Strategies, SAVI Announces New Distribution Center and Systems Testing Laboratory, SAVI and Sonance Partner to Deliver a Seamless Audio Integration Experience for Commercial Dealers, SAVI Sales Engineers Lead Domestic and International Project Design, Michael Burton Joins SAVI as Regional Sales Director for Southcentral and Southeastern U.S. Technologies & applications for improved resiliency, reliability & efficiency. Great customer service and knowledgeable technicians. Use of the paper and the views expressed in it is voluntary, and reliance on it should only be undertaken after an independent review of its accuracy, completeness, efficacy, and timeliness, and based on the individual facts and circumstances of a user. I hope that you find it helpful! This by definition is a Plenum Air space and requires Plenum Rated Cable. So double check that your cables are UL or ETL verified. I would recommend them and wish I had called them sooner. A plenum rated cables jacket is highly fire-resistant, made from low smoke material, and less toxic. All rights reserved. you should now know what that means. When no conduit is used, plenum cable is often required since the cable is considered to be freely installed. These coatings offer both resistance to fire and low smoke if they do burn. There are many more Abbreviations that you will see depending on the kind of cable that you are using but these are the most common ones out there for Ethernet cable. In the 2020 NEC, the new Section 725.3(P) for Class 2 and Class 3 cables, and new Section 760.3(O) for power-limited fire alarm cables, permit green wires to be used ungrounded without the voltage limitations in Section 250.119. Contact Us Today for More Information on Cabling Services! Two of the most popular ones are UL and ETL. Here is a summarized view of the key differences between plenum vs. riser cables that can steer you toward a decision: Fire rating: Plenum cables require higher fire ratings due to their use in HVAC systems, which have an increased possibility of encouraging a fire in their oxygen-rich environments. If you do not see the word plenum anywhere the cable jacket grade may be identified as an abbreviation. Donna Ballast is a communications analyst at the University of Texas at Austin and a bicsi reg-istered communications distribution designer (rcdd). This is an important issue related to the chemical composition of the cable and your buildings construction, especially when it comes to your small business phone system and low voltage data/audio cabling. Plenum (CMP) are theonly permitted networking cables that can be installed in areas with air flow (Plenum spaces). Typically these are found in riser and plenum fiber cables because LSZH is low smoke, low toxicity, and has low corrosion characteristics. The other option is to use Limited Power (-LP) cables and to keep the current in each conductor below the ampere limit marked on the cable. We have been asked, primarily by our customers, what the requirements are for running pvc-jacketed cable or riser-rated cable into a building. For equipment with a rated current per conductor less than 0.3 amperes, the effective date shall be January 1, 2021. You have entered an incorrect email address! In the 2020 NEC, Informational Notes were added to Sections 725.24 and 760.24. We now have security, phone, & internet all through Computers Nationwide. a data center. Most people can use riser cable for the majority of their residential network construction. The 23 American wire gauge (AWG) cables rated for plenum use have almost exclusively been solid cable. For fiber optic cables, the majority of the cable diameter is not the actual fiber strands, but it is all of the sleeving/shieldings that go around the glass strands.
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