Riser vs Plenum Cabling Explained

Published Apr 18, 2019 18:05 PM

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.

Flammability ********

*** ********** ******* ***** ***** ** plenum (***/***) ***** *** ****-***** ***** is ***** ** *** ****** ***********. N*****, ******* ***-**** ***** ******* *** flammable *** *** ******** **** ***** in * ******** ****, ********* ** avenue *** ***** ** ****** *************** ********. ********** ** ******-**** ***** **** building ****** ** ******** ******, *** velocity ** *** ****** ** *** space *** **** * ******* **** a *************. *** ***** ****** ****** provides **** **** *** ******* *** a ****.

** ********, ***** (***) *** ****** (CMP) ****** *** ******** *********** **** fire-resistant materials **** ****-********** *****, ** *** not *********, ** **** *** ******** fire ***********. **** ** *** ** fire-segregated **************** ******** ****** ** ** ******, these ******** ** *** ********** ** a ****'* ******.

Plenum ** *****

** **********, ****** ******* **** **** stringent **** ****** **** ***** *******. The *** ******** ****** ** ******* the ****** ****** ** **** ********* than ******** ** ***** ********:

  • ***: *** ****** ******, *** ******** '*********** ******** *******' *** * **** **** ******* point (***° *). ** *******, ** remains ******** ****** ** ***** ************ to **** *** ****** **** ***-***** cable, *** *** *********** ********** ********** properties.
  • ****: *** ***** ******, ****** ******** composed ** *********** ********* ************* * ****** ******* ***** **** 'regular' *** (******* *** °*), *** ** less ********* **** *** ** * raw ********.** **** *** **** ********** ********** needed *** ******* *****.

Cost **********

*** ********* **** ********** ** ***** varieties *** ** ***** *****. ******** the ***** ** ***-***** ** ***** cabling ** ****** ****** ****** *%, the **** ******* ***** (***) *** plenum (***) ********* ****** ** ****:

When ** *** ****

**** ********** ***** *** ******** ********, it *** ** ****** *** ******** to ******** ** ********* '****** ***** Throughout'.  ***** ****** ******* ***** *** most ********* ************ ** ******* ** a ********, **** ********** *** ** reduce **** ** ********* ********* ** **** buying *** ***** *****.

** *** ***** ****, **** **** writers ** ********** ***** ******* ****** by ******* ** ***** *** ******** of ******** ************* ** ** '***** themselves' ** **** **** * ******. 

*******, ** **** *****, **** *** be ******* ** ***** *** ******* cable **** *** *** ***.  ** generally ****** ***** **** **** *** be **** *****:

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

**** ***** ****** ******* *** ******, it ********* ** *** ******* * hole ** * ******** ******* ** a ******** ****. **** **** ** called * '***** *****' *** ** usually ******* ** * ******, ** a **** *********** '***** ******' **** sprinkler ****** **** ****** ******* ******. Since *** ***** ******* ** ******, short, *** ********* **** *** **** a **** ******** *******, *** ***** passing ******* **** ***** **** *** need ** **** ****** '******' **************:

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

**** ***** ******* ******* ***** ** floors ****** **** ********, ** ****** be ****** *****. ******* ***** *** often *** ******** ******** ******* *** points, ***** ** ****** ****** ** on *** ******* ******* ** *** duct.

*******, ******** ** ******* **********, *** air ***** ***** * **** ******* is *** ****** ******. ** **** cases, **** ** * ****** ********** if **** *** ***** ** *** an ****** **** ** *** **** air **** *******. 

***** *** ** ***** **** *********** than ***, ** *** ** **** in *** ***** ** ***** ******* at *** ******* ** ****** *****.

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

** ***** ******* ******* ** * plenum *****, *** ******* ******, ** requires ** ******* ******:  

*******, ***** ************ *** *****, **** running ****** ********* ** *******, ***** trays, ** **** *****. ******* ****** unsupported **** ******* *****, ********** ** high-voltage *******, ** ** ***** ******* to *** *** ***** ****** ********, but ** ******* ************ ****** *******.

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

** * ******* ***, ***** *** where ** ** *** ******** ******** take ********, ***** ********* *** *** bottom ****.  ** * ** **** non-rated ***** *** ***** ~$*.** ** cable, ********** ***** *** *** **** than ****** ***** ** ~$*.**.

*******

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

  • ******* **** ** ** ** ********:**** **** ***** *** '** ** touches ******, ** **** ** ****** rated', ** **** ****** *** ******* a **** *** **** ** *** rated.
  • ******* **** **** ** ****** ******** airspace: **** ** ***** ******** **** ducts, ** ***** *** ** ** exchange ****** ******-********. ** ******** ********** ***************** ** ******* *****, ** ****** is *** ******. *******, ** ***** furnace ***** ** ****** ***** *** present, *** ***** ****** ******** *** cable.
  • ******* ******* ******: *** *** ** **** ** place ** *** ** ******.

*******, ***** ****** *** **** ** one ******* ***********:

  • ******* ******* ******: ****** ******* ** ** **** to ******** ****** ****** ** *** rated, *** *** ******* ********** ******** or *****.

***** ***** ***** *** ** **** as '******* *******' *** ***-***** ******, it ****** ** **** ** ****** applications, *** ***** ** ** ****** higher **** ***** *********.  ******* *** CMR ** *******, *** **** ****** in **** ****** *********** *** ****** money.

*** ****** ********** ** **** ***** are ******** *** ******* ******* ********, but ** ******* ********** **** ********* or ***** ***** *** ********, *** must **** ** *********.

Comments (20)
U
Undisclosed #1
Apr 18, 2019

**, *'** ***** *'* ******** * cold *** ****** ** ** *******, but * ***'* *** *** ****** in **** *******:

(1)
Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Apr 18, 2019
IPVMU Certified

**! **'* *** *** *******!  ** edited *** ******** ******, *** ****'* update **** **** ** *** ****.  I **** ***!  ******.

(1)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #2
Apr 19, 2019

**** *******.  **** ***** * ***** home ***** ***** **** ******* ** a ******* ***** ******** **** ***** house.  **** ***-***** ***** *** * fire-risk?  *’* ****** *** ****** ** “no” *** ** *** “**** *****” part?

U
Undisclosed #3
Apr 20, 2019

**** *** ***** **** * ******? If *** ***** ** ** **** to *** ***** ***** *** ****** frame ** ******* *** ***** **** is *** ** *****. ***** ** all *** ********* ** *********, ***********, plastics...that ********** ******* ** ****** ** kill *** *****. * ***** **** a *********** ***** ***** *** ********* types ** *********** ************* *** ** aged ***** *** **** ** ******* I ****** **** ******* ***** **.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #6
Apr 25, 2019

****** ********* **** ** ********* ** feet ** ****, ****, ****, ***. in *********** ************** ***** ******** ** major ******* *********, * *** **** you (** ****** *******) **** ***** rated ***** ** ********** ** ****** every *********** ************.

(2)
BM
Bryan McGee
Apr 20, 2019
  • ******* **** ** ** ** ********: **** **** ***** *** '** ** touches ******, ** **** ** ****** rated', ** **** ****** *** ******* a **** *** **** ** *** rated.

*'* ****** ** ********** ****.  ** it ******* *** ******* ** * duct ** **** ** ***?  ** there * ********* ** *** ** this?

U
Undisclosed #4
Apr 23, 2019

** * ** **** ** **** expert, **** *** **** *** *** doing ********** ***** ****** ** ********?

(7)
(7)
WT
Warren Tilbrook
Apr 23, 2019

**** ******* *** * ***** ******* against ******* *********** *** ********** **** or ******** ********** ******* **** *** on *** **** ** ******* **** it ***** ** **** ******. * consultant ** ****** *** *** ************* he **** *** **** ** *** generally ******** ****** *** ***  ****** and *** ***** ** ****** ****** profit (*** ***** ****). 

 

******* ************* ** **** ***** ***** local / ******** / ************* **** safety *********** **** ******* *** **** of ***** ****, *** ** ** in **** ********* *** * *********** to *** *** ***** **** ******* (LMZH) ** **** ** ***** ************** in **** ** *** ******** * work **.

**** ** ******* *** ****** ** fire ** *** *** **** ******* when ***** ************** *** *******  *** the  ******** ** ******* *** ***** a *********** ****** ** ******** ***** in ******** *****.

** ** ******* ** * ********* / **********  ( ******* **** ** gutless) * ***** ** ***** ** discuss *** ********* **** ** ***** a **** ********* ** **** ***** if ** ***** **** *** ****.

 

 

(1)
Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Apr 23, 2019
IPVMU Certified

****** ******, * ******* *** **** to ********* '****', ** ** **** read ** * ***** **** *** does *** ****** * ************ *********.

*** ******* ***** ** **** *** specifications *** ** ******** **** *** needed.

**** ****** ***** *****, *** ** me ****** **** * **********/********* ****** be ******** ** ***** ** ******** in * *******. *******, ** ***** of ********* **** *************  ************ ** that *** ***** ** *** ** LMZH ** ***-*****, ***** **** *********** specify ****?  * ********* ** ** doubt **, *** **'* **** ** revise *** ****** ** ******* '******** Requirements' *** **** ********.

(1)
Avatar
Pawel Malota
Jan 15, 2022
Wirtmann Engineering • IPVMU Certified

*** *** ***** ****** ** ** halogen ****?

SD
Shannon Davis
Apr 23, 2019
IPVMU Certified

***********, ***** ****** ** ******* *** specify *** ******* **** ***** *** wherever ** **** *** ***** ** still *** ****** **** *** ****, the **********. ** *** ********** ** on * ***** ******* ***** ***** are ******** ***** ** ****** ***** installed * ********* * ***** **** get *** ***** ** ** *** supposed ** *** ***. * ** not ******* *** ********** ******.

********* ** *** ****** ** ****** being *** ***** ** ** *** to ***** **** ***** ** **** cable **** *****. **** ** *** mark *** ***** ** ***** ****. Plenum *** * ********* **** ** it ***** **** ******** *** ********* but *** ******. * ****** *** a ******* **** *** ******* ***** marked *** ****** *******, **** *** right ****** ** ******* ***** ********* cable, *** *** ***** ** **** placed *** $**,*** ***** ****'* ******* plenum *****, **** ****** ****'* **** we **** **% ** *** ****. Well **** ********* *** ***** ** us **** *** ***** **** *** a **** ****** ******* *** ** installed **** *****. **** * ***** have **** *** *** ******, *** should ****, *** * **** ******* if ** ****** $*** ** ********** cable **** *** ***** ***** **** been ******** ****** ** *** ********* 2 ***** ****, *** *** ***** felt **** ****** ** * ****'* question *** *****. **** * ****** of ***** ***** * ** *****' inspector **** *** *** ******** ****** at *** ***** *** ******* ** wan't ******. ***** **** ** *** to ****** *** ***** **** ****. 

** ****** *** ****** ***** ** our ******** ********** ****** ** **** the ****** *** ** ***** ** be ** *******.

(1)
Avatar
Pawel Malota
Jan 15, 2022
Wirtmann Engineering • IPVMU Certified

****:

*** ** *** **** ****** ***** everywhere **** ** ** ** *** necessary? ** *** ** ** ****** dept. *** *** * ******* ** catch *** ******, ********** *** *** object:)

UE
Undisclosed End User #5
Apr 24, 2019

* ********* *** ********* ******** ****** because

*. *** ***-***** ******** ** ******* the ************ *** *** **** **** drivers, *** *** ***** ******

*. ****** *****; ** ****** ****** above, * ***'* *** ***** ** risk *** * *** *****

*. ****** ********; **** ** * slightly ********* ***** *** **** * cost ******: ** ******** ** *** overall ********* ** *** *****, ** also ***** ***** ** ****** ** shield **** ******* **** ** ****** interference *** ******* ****** ********** ** future ************. ** ** *** ****, I **** ** *** ** ** exceed *** *.* ***** (*/***, **** Mhz). **'* **** ******* ** ** this **** ** ****** *** ***** even **** (*** ***** * *****).

(4)
(1)
PB
Patrick Bailey
May 02, 2019

********* ***** ****** *** ***** ********** is **** ** *** *** ******* non-plenum ******* *** ** ********* ** enters * ****** ***** **** ** for **** * ******* ********, *** 6 ******, *** ****** *** **** be ****** ***** *******.  *** ********, the ******* ********* **** *********** *** too **** ** *** ********* ***** covering ***** ***** ** *** **** absolutely ********** *** **** *********** ** see **** * ******* **** ** IPVM, *** ** **** *** **** by ** **** ****** ** **** industry.  ** ** ** ****** ***** that ***** ** * *********** **** of ************ ** **** ************* ** the ****** **** *********** **** ** this ********.  ** *********** ********* **** mistakes?  ********** *** ** **** *** seen **** ******* ******** ** ***** that **** **** *** ***** **** head *** ****** *** **** ****** gets **** *** **** ****.  *** at *** **** ****, ** **** also **** **** ******** ***** **** baffle ***.  *** ***** ** ****** and ******** ************* ** *** *****, the **********, *** *************, *** ******** trends *** ** *** ** *** nothing ***** ** *******.  

*** *** ** ****** **** ***-****** is *** **** * **** **** debated *** *** **** ** *****.  Most ********* * **** ****** *** take *** ******** **** *** ******** should ** *** **** ****** ******* period.  ********* *** ***** **** ** verify **** **** ******* *** ******* will ** ********* **** ** ****** or *** ***** ** *****.  **** run ** **** ****** *** **** it * ***.  **** ***** ** not ******** ******** ******** ** *** same **** ** *****.  **** **** more ***** ** *** ****** * lawsuit *** ********** ** ********** *** wrong *****.  **** * *** **** by *** ************ ************ ** *** death ** ** ******** ****** ** the ******** *** *** ******** **** noxious *****.  ** *** ** ***** who ******* **** **** ********** **** it **** **** *** **** ** many ***** ********* **** **** ******* dangerous ***** *** ***** ****** * fire, **** ****** ****** ******** ******* or *** **** ****** ****** ** an ******** **** ** ****** ** protect ****** *** *****.  **** ******* there *** ***** ***** ***** ******** by ********* **** *** *** ** tightly ********* **** *** **** ** is **** **** **** ** ** ahead *** *** **** **** ******** especially **** ***** ** ** * violation ** **** *** ** ******.

**** ** *** *****.  **** **** you ******* *** ****** ****** ** the **** ************ ** *** ** the **** ** ******* *** ****** to *** ****** **** ***** *** could've ****** **** **** ***-******, **** comes **** ** **** **** *%.  For ******* ***'* *** *** **** a ******* **** *** **** *** $117,000.  *** **** ** *** ****** cabling **** ****** $*,*** ((*) ****' spools ** ****** ***** ********** ****).  The **** ** *** ****** ********** CAT6 ******* ** ***** **% **** which *** (*) ****' ****** **** run *** ***** $*,*** ****.  **** equates ** ***** *.*% *********.  ** you *** ****** **** ******** ***** on **** ************ *** *** ******** does *** *** *** ***** ***** of **** **** ****** ************* *** understanding ** **** **********, **** * feel *** ***.  ***** ** ***** make ***** ** ****** **** ****** by *.*% ** ***** *** **** of ***** ** ***** ********** ** you **** *** *** ********* ******* the ********** ***** ******* **** ** ensure *** ** *** **** ******** due ** **** ******* *********.  *** time ***** *********** ***-****** ******* ************ to **** **** ****** ******* ******* warehouse ** ****** ******* *** *** added ***** ***** *** *** ***** concerns ********* **** ***** ******** **** make ** ***** ** **.  *** plenum *** **** ******** **** *** small **** **** * **** ******* or ***** *** **** ******* *** to *** ** *** *** ***** over **** ******-***** **** *******.  **** brings ** ******* *****... ** ********* out ***** ******** ******* ******* **** running *** ******* *** *******? *** example, **** *** ******* * *** IP ***** ****** *** *** ******** all ** *** ******** ******* *****, which *** ** *** ******* ** bundled ******* **** ***** ****** ******* or ** **** **** *** **** cables *** * **** ****** *** close ** ***%.  *** *** ******** this *** *** *** **** ** years ** *********.  *'* **** ******* if **** ** *** ******** ****** of ********* ***** **** ** **** integrators?  * ** *** **** ** be ****** *** ********* **** ***** and **** ****** / ***-****** **** but * ** *******... 

(1)
(2)
Avatar
Pawel Malota
Jan 15, 2022
Wirtmann Engineering • IPVMU Certified

****:

* ***** ****** ***** *** *** old ************.. * *** ***** **** your *****.. ******** ** ******* ** invest ** ******** *** ***:))

TT
Tan Tharp
Oct 07, 2020
IPVMU Certified

**** ** *********, * ***** *** told ***** ***** ** ***** ** run, *** ***** ***** ** *** why ** *** ***** *** ** CMR *** **** *****.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #7
Jun 15, 2021

******* ************* * ***'* ***** ****** has ********* ** *******/*** ***********. ** background ** ****** *****, *** **'** found **** * ****** ***** **** degrade **** **** ******* ** ******* to ********, **** ** ** * conduit ** * ******* **** ** on * ****. ***, **** ****** do **** ******* ********* **** ****** be **** ***** ******** ** ***********, like ** **'* ***********, *** * would ***** "*****-*****" ***-****** ***** ***** when *** ** * ******* ** it's ** * ******* ****, **** or ***** "*************" ***** ******* ** moisture. *****, ** ***'** *******'* ******** is "**** *** ******" **** ***** create * *********** ***/** ******* ***** down *** ****. ****, *** *** address ******* *** *** ************ *** the ****** ******-***** ***** ** ***?

(1)
(1)
SD
Shannon Davis
Jun 15, 2021
IPVMU Certified

* **** ******** **** ** ****** cable ** *********** ******* ****. *** conduits *** ********** *** ***** ** them. ****** ***** ** **** ***** as ** **** **** * ******. Typically *** **** * *** ******* more *** *** *** *** ******* cable *** ***** ****. ** ****** if *** ****'* ****** **** *** cable **** *** **** ******* *** never ****.

* **** ***** *** ******* *** proper ***** *** *********** *** *** hard ** *** *** **** **** expensive **** ** ** ***.

*** ******** ** ** **** *** plenum ****** **** *** *** ******* with ******* ***** **** ****** ** conduit ** ****** ******. **** ** use *** *********** *****. *** ***** for ****** ***** **** ** ** use ********* ***** **** ****** *** plenum ***** **** *** ** ****** spaces.

Avatar
Pawel Malota
Jan 15, 2022
Wirtmann Engineering • IPVMU Certified

**, **** ** *** ******* ***** for**********?

** *** **** *** ******/***** ***** are ********** (** ***) **** ******* standard *** *** *****, ***/*** *****?

JM
Jerome Miller
Jan 16, 2022

** * ******* **** , *** entrance ***** ** * ******** *** only ** *** * ******* ******** before ** ************ ** *** ****** rated *****. * ***** ** ****. This ** ** *** ********** ** direct **** ******* ***** *** ***'* gas *** ** * ****. * also **** *** **** *** ******* where **** ** *** ******** ** riser ***** *** **** ******. ** is **** ******** ** *** ****** everywhere *** *** **** ** ***** with *** ********** *****.