Riser vs Plenum Cabling Explained

Author: Brian Rhodes, Published on Apr 18, 2019

You could be spending twice as much for cable as you need. The difference between 'plenum' rated cable and 'riser' rated cable is subtle, but the cost difference is big.

What is the proper use for each type, and how can you avoid costly mistakes? We look at the differences between 'plenum' and 'riser' types, and why not knowing the difference could be costing you big.

*** ***** ** ******** twice ** **** *** cable ** *** ****. The ********** ******* '******' rated ***** *** '*****' rated ***** ** ******, but *** **** ********** is ***.

**** ** *** ****** use *** **** ****, and *** *** *** avoid ****** ********? ** look ** *** *********** between '******' *** '*****' types, *** *** *** knowing *** ********** ***** be ******* *** ***.

[***************]

Flammability ********

*** ********** ******* ***** riser ** ****** (***/***) cable *** ****-***** ***** is ***** ** *** jacket ***********. ******, ******* ***-**** ***** jackets *** ********* *** can ******** **** ***** in * ******** ****, providing ** ****** *** flame ** ****** *************** ********. ********** ** oxygen-rich ***** **** ******** plenum ** ******** ******, the ******** ** *** moving ** *** ***** can **** * ******* into * *************. *** cable ****** ****** ******** both **** *** ******* for * ****.

** ********, ***** (***) and ****** (***) ****** are ******** *********** **** fire-resistant ********* **** ****-********** flame, ** *** *** flammable, ** **** *** building **** ***********. **** if *** ** ****-********** areas*********** ******** ****** ** in ******, ***** ******** do *** ********** ** a ****'* ******.

Plenum ** *****

** **********, ****** ******* have **** ********* **** rating **** ***** *******. The *** ******** ****** to ******* *** ****** rating ** **** ********* than ******** ** ***** products:

***: *** ****** ******, the ******** '*********** ******** *******' *** * **** high ******* ***** (***° F). ** *******, ** remains ******** ****** ** lower ************ ** **** and ****** **** ***-***** cable, *** *** *********** electrical ********** **********.
****: *** ***** ******, jacket ******** ******** ************* ********* ************* * ****** ******* point **** '*******' *** (usually *** °*), *** is **** ********* **** FEP ** * *** material.** **** *** **** insulating ********** ****** *** Datacom *****.

Cost **********

*** ********* **** ********** in ***** ********* *** be ***** *****. ******** the ***** ** ***-***** vs ***** ******* ** almost ****** ****** *%, the **** ******* ***** (CMR) *** ****** (***) can****** ****** ** ****:

When ** *** ****

**** ********** ***** *** security ********, ** *** be ****** *** ******** to ******** ** ********* 'Plenum ***** **********'. ***** plenum ******* ***** *** most ********* ************ ** cabling ** * ********, many ********** *** ** reduce **** ** ********* inventory ** **** ****** CMP ***** *****.

** *** ***** ****, lazy **** ******* ** architects ***** ******* ****** when **** ** *** need **, **** ** avoid *** ******** ** detailed ************* ** ** 'cover **********' ** **** miss * ******.

*******, ** **** *****, cost *** ** ******* by ***** *** ******* cable **** *** *** job. ** ********* ****** where **** **** *** be **** *****:

***** (***) *****

**** ***** ****** ******* two ******, ** ********* is *** ******* * hole ** * ******** conduit ** * ******** spot. **** **** ** called * '***** *****' and ** ******* ******* in * ******, ** a **** *********** '***** closet' **** ********* ****** also ****** ******* ******. Since *** ***** ******* is ******, *****, *** typically **** *** **** a **** ******** *******, the ***** ******* ******* this ***** **** *** need ** **** ****** 'plenum' **************:

****** (***) *****

**** ***** ******* ******* rooms ** ****** ****** HVAC ********, ** ****** be ****** *****. ******* ducts *** ***** *** shortest ******** ******* *** points, ***** ** ****** inside ** ** *** outside ******* ** *** duct.

*******, ******** ** ******* perception, *** *** ***** above * **** ******* is *** ****** ******. In **** *****, **** is * ****** ********** if **** *** ***** is *** ** ****** part ** *** **** air **** *******.

***** *** ** ***** more *********** **** ***, it *** ** **** in *** ***** ** riser ******* ** *** expense ** ****** *****.

******** *****

** ***** ******* ******* in * ****** *****, nor ******* ******, ** requires ** ******* ******:

*******, ***** ************ *** apply, **** ******* ****** protected ** *******, ***** trays, ** **** *****. Running ****** *********** **** ceiling *****, ********** ** high-voltage *******, ** ** areas ******* ** *** are ***** ****** ********, but ** ******* ************ rating *******.

****** **************'*

** * ******* ***, using *** ***** ** is *** ******** ******** take ********, ***** ********* off *** ****** ****. If * ** **** non-rated ***** *** ***** ~$3.50 ** *****, ********** using *** *** **** than ****** ***** ** ~$7.60.

*******

** *******, ****** ***** should ** **** ****:

******* **** ** ** on ********:**** **** ***** *** 'if ** ******* ******, it **** ** ****** rated', ** **** ****** run ******* * **** run **** ** *** rated.
******* **** **** ** active ******** ********: **** ** ***** overhead **** *****, ** still *** ** ** exchange ****** ******-********. ** ******** ********** into************* ** ******* *****, it ****** ** *** active. *******, ** ***** furnace ***** ** ****** vents *** *******, *** space ****** ******** *** cable.
******* ******* ******: *** *** ** used ** ***** ** CMR ** ******.

*******, ***** ****** *** used ** *** ******* application:

******* ******* ******: ****** ******* ** or **** ** ******** floors ****** ** *** rated, *** *** ******* designated ******** ** *****.

***** ***** ***** *** be **** ** '******* purpose' *** ***-***** ******, it ****** ** **** in ****** ************, *** tends ** ** ****** higher **** ***** *********. Utility *** *** ** limited, *** **** ****** in **** ****** *********** for ****** *****.

*** ****** ********** ** both ***** *** ******** for ******* ******* ********, but ** ******* ********** like ********* ** ***** wires *** ********, *** must **** ** *********.

Comments (3)

Undisclosed #1

04/18/19 07:38pm

**, *'** ***** *'* fighting * **** *** hopped ** ** *******, but * ***'* *** any ****** ** **** graphic:

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 04/18/19 07:55pm

**! **'* *** *** DayQuil! ** ****** *** specific ******, *** ****'* update **** **** ** the ****. * **** now! ******.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

04/19/19 11:39am

**** *******. **** ***** a ***** **** ***** floor **** ******* ** a ******* ***** ******** wood ***** *****. **** non-rated ***** *** * fire-risk? *’* ****** *** answer ** “**” *** to *** “**** *****” part?

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