How do I know if my cable is plenum rated?
Look for CMP(means Communications Plenum Cable) ,CL3P(Shielded Multi-Conductor Plenum Security Cable) , or CL2P(Class 2 plenum cable ) marked on the cable. Plenum cable is covered with a fire proof plastic layer of either a low-smoke polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a fluorinated ethylene polymer (FEP).
What is the fire rating of plenum cable?
five feet
Plenum rated (CMP) cable has an outer jacket made of fire-resistant material like Teflon to prevent fire from spreading. When a fire happens, plenum rated cable is designed to: Restrict flame propagation to no more than five feet. Limit the amount of harmful smoke released.
Is LSZH plenum rated?
Users often confuse the Plenum rating with the LSZH rating since both include a provision for Low Smoke. However, the Plenum rated cables often contain Fluorine, which falls under the Halogen category. The LSZH cables do not contain the Halogen type compounds that form these toxic substances.
Can LSZH cable be used in plenum?
In 1979, British Research Engineering developed the LSZH cable jacket (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) for use in commercial plenum spaces, submarines, and nuclear power plants. The result was the development of the UL910/NFPA 262 test for fire safety in commercial plenum air spaces.
What is VW 1 rated?
vertical flame rating
VW-1 is a vertical flame rating that measures the resistance of insulating materials to the propagation of a fire. The test involves mounting lengths of wire vertically in a ventilated chamber and attempting to ignite the wire with a gas flame.
Is CMR cable plenum rated?
CMR cable, often called “riser-rated cable,” is constructed to prevent fires from spreading floor to floor in vertical installations. Even higher rated is CMP (plenum-rated cable). This cable is designed to restrict flame propagation to no more than five feet, and to limit the amount of smoke emitted during a fire.
Is plenum cable outdoor rated?
Plenum cable is rated for the “plenum spaces” in buildings, which are simply the parts of the building that facilitate air circulation in heating and air conditioning systems. This designation simply means that the cable has been engineered to be buried without any kind of outside protection.
Is Lszh fire rated?
LSZH Fire Resistant (FR) Cable LSZH FR cable is a fire safety product, which means it not only reduces the spread of fire, it will maintain circuit integrity in the presence of fire.
Where is LSZH cable used?
This type of material is typically used in poorly ventilated areas such as aircraft, rail carriages, tanks, subsea and offshore installations, submarines or ships. It is also used extensively in the rail industry, wherever high voltage or track signal wires must be run into and through tunnel systems.
What does VW-1 mean on a wire?
VW-1: These cables have passed a VW-1 flame test and carry a “fire resistant” designation. The VW-1 test provides an assessment of the cable insulation material and resilience to fire. This is one of the most severe tests since it’s performed vertically and can be viewed as a worst-case test condition.
What is AWM cable?
An AWM cable is defined by Underwriters Laboratories® (UL) as appliance wire material. These wire types cover a wide range of cable constructions across many industries and applications. The NFPA 79 2007 edition prohibited their use, even though these types of cables have been used in the industry for many years.
What is a VW-1 rated cable?
Cables that have a VW-1 rating have passed this test and are considered fire resistant. However, a VW-1 rating does not necessarily mean that the cable is safe to run in wall. We strongly recommend contacting your local code enforcement, or your insurance company.
What does VW-1 mean?
VW-1 is a flame test commonly used in the United States to determine the cable’s resistance to fire. Cables that have a VW-1 rating have passed this test and are considered fire resistant. However, a VW-1 rating does not necessarily mean that the cable is safe to run in wall.
What are Plenum rated cables?
Plenum rated cables are meant to be used in areas with a lot of air flow, typically air ventilation systems. These cables have a special type of insulation and jacketing that cause them to smoke and burn far less than other cables.
What is the difference between a VW-1 and Cl2 rating?
We strongly recommend contacting your local code enforcement, or your insurance company. They will be able to better advise on whether or not a VW-1 rating is safe for in wall usage. A CL2 rating meaning that a cable has passed the required NEC test for a high rating of fire resistance.
