Plenum cable/ˈplɛnəm/ is electrical cable that is laid in the plenum spaces of buildings. In the United States, plastics used in the construction of plenum cable are regulated under the National Fire Protection Association standard NFPA 90A: Standard for the Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems. All materials intended for use on wire and cables to be placed in plenum spaces are designed to meet rigorous fire safety test standards in accordance with NFPA 262 and outlined in NFPA 90A.
Plenum cable is required because, if nonplenum cable catches fire, it can release toxic fumes. If those fumes are released in a plenum space, they can spread throughout the building through the air circulation system.[1]
Plenum cable is jacketed with a fire-retardant plastic jacket of either a low-smoke polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a fluorinated ethylene polymer (FEP). Polyolefin formulations, specifically based on polyethylene compounding had been developed by at least two companies in the early to mid-1990s; however, these were never commercialized, and development efforts continue in these yet-untapped product potentials. Development efforts on a non-halogen plenum compound were announced in 2007 citing new flame-retardant synergist packages that may provide an answer for a yet-underdeveloped plenum cable market outside the United States.
In 2006, significant concern developed over the potential toxicity of FEP and related fluorochemicals including the process aid perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or C8 such that California has proposed some of these materials as potential human carcinogens. The NFPA Technical Committee on Air Conditioning, in response to public comment, has referred the issue of toxicity of cabling materials to the NFPA Committee on Toxicity for review before 2008.
In 2007, a development program specifically targeting the production of a non-halogen plenum cable compound was announced to specifically address lingering toxicity concerns presented by halogenated compounds for use in European and other global markets.
Riser cableedit
Cable that is run between floors in non-plenum areas is rated as riser cable.[2] The fire requirements on riser cable are not as strict. Thus, plenum cable can always replace riser cable, but riser cable cannot replace plenum cable in plenum spaces.
Both plenum and riser cables commonly include a rope or polymer filament with high tensile strength, which helps support the weight of the cable when it is dangling in an open chute.
Cables like twisted-pair, coaxial, HDMI, and DVI are available in both plenum and riser versions. The cable cost is often significantly higher than general-use cable due to the special restricted-use flame retardant materials.
Cable stiffnessedit
Plenum-rated and riser-rated cables are restricted to only allow certain chemicals for manufacture of the wire insulation and cable sheath. Typically this results in reduced flexibility of plastic cables, making it stiff and hard to bend. The bend radius may also be increased, and tight bends can potentially crack or tear the insulation and sheathing.
Referencesedit
^Hallberg, Bruce A. (2014). Networking: A Beginner's Guide (Sixth ed.). New York. p. 51. ISBN9780071812245.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^"Intrabuilding riser cable-- a look at the basics". www.cablinginstall.com. March 1997. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
External linksedit
The videos here, while presenting a comparative viewpoint, do not show the fire tests used to determine the relative acceptability of cables for use in plenum spaces. The fire tests shown in the referenced link are small scale (bench) demonstrations of relative burning characteristics under one condition that is not sanctioned by or used by any safety code or regulation in determining suitability for use in plenum or other applications.
NFPA 90A: Standard for the Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilating Systems
January 01, 1970
plenum, cable, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, january, 200. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Plenum cable news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2008 Learn how and when to remove this message Plenum cable ˈ p l ɛ n em is electrical cable that is laid in the plenum spaces of buildings In the United States plastics used in the construction of plenum cable are regulated under the National Fire Protection Association standard NFPA 90A Standard for the Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems All materials intended for use on wire and cables to be placed in plenum spaces are designed to meet rigorous fire safety test standards in accordance with NFPA 262 and outlined in NFPA 90A Plenum cable is required because if nonplenum cable catches fire it can release toxic fumes If those fumes are released in a plenum space they can spread throughout the building through the air circulation system 1 Plenum cable is jacketed with a fire retardant plastic jacket of either a low smoke polyvinyl chloride PVC or a fluorinated ethylene polymer FEP Polyolefin formulations specifically based on polyethylene compounding had been developed by at least two companies in the early to mid 1990s however these were never commercialized and development efforts continue in these yet untapped product potentials Development efforts on a non halogen plenum compound were announced in 2007 citing new flame retardant synergist packages that may provide an answer for a yet underdeveloped plenum cable market outside the United States In 2006 significant concern developed over the potential toxicity of FEP and related fluorochemicals including the process aid perfluorooctanoic acid PFOA or C8 such that California has proposed some of these materials as potential human carcinogens The NFPA Technical Committee on Air Conditioning in response to public comment has referred the issue of toxicity of cabling materials to the NFPA Committee on Toxicity for review before 2008 In 2007 a development program specifically targeting the production of a non halogen plenum cable compound was announced to specifically address lingering toxicity concerns presented by halogenated compounds for use in European and other global markets Riser cable editCable that is run between floors in non plenum areas is rated as riser cable 2 The fire requirements on riser cable are not as strict Thus plenum cable can always replace riser cable but riser cable cannot replace plenum cable in plenum spaces Both plenum and riser cables commonly include a rope or polymer filament with high tensile strength which helps support the weight of the cable when it is dangling in an open chute Cables like twisted pair coaxial HDMI and DVI are available in both plenum and riser versions The cable cost is often significantly higher than general use cable due to the special restricted use flame retardant materials Cable stiffness editPlenum rated and riser rated cables are restricted to only allow certain chemicals for manufacture of the wire insulation and cable sheath Typically this results in reduced flexibility of plastic cables making it stiff and hard to bend The bend radius may also be increased and tight bends can potentially crack or tear the insulation and sheathing References edit Hallberg Bruce A 2014 Networking A Beginner s Guide Sixth ed New York p 51 ISBN 9780071812245 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Intrabuilding riser cable a look at the basics www cablinginstall com March 1997 Retrieved 2017 12 15 External links editVideos showing flammability of cables including Plenum rated based on jacket rating The videos here while presenting a comparative viewpoint do not show the fire tests used to determine the relative acceptability of cables for use in plenum spaces The fire tests shown in the referenced link are small scale bench demonstrations of relative burning characteristics under one condition that is not sanctioned by or used by any safety code or regulation in determining suitability for use in plenum or other applications NFPA 90A Standard for the Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Plenum cable amp oldid 1181002256, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
