Plenum vs Non Plenum PVC Network Ethernet Cables.
Summary
TLDRThis video explains the distinctions between PVC-rated network cables: Plenum, Riser, and General Purpose. Plenum cables, also known as CMP, are essential for open air spaces like plenums, where they must be highly fire-resistant and non-toxic. Riser cables, or CMR, are for vertical runs between floors, with moderate fire safety. General Purpose cables, the cheapest, are for minimal fire hazard areas. The video emphasizes the importance of selecting the right cable for specific environments to ensure safety.
Takeaways
- 🔌 The primary difference between PVC-rated network cables is the outer jacket material and its fire resistance, not the internal wiring or category (Cat 5, Cat 6, Cat 7).
- 🏢 'Plenum' cables are designed for use in spaces with open air flow circulation, such as between drop ceilings and structural ceilings, and must be more fire-resistant and non-toxic when burned.
- 🔥 Plenum cables, also known as CMP (Communications Multi-Purpose Plenum), are certified by Underwriters Laboratories for use in open air environments and are designed to meet stringent fire safety standards.
- 💸 Plenum cables are more expensive than non-plenum cables due to their specialized materials like Teflon FEP, which is a flame retardant.
- 🚫 Non-plenum PVC cables are cheaper but not recommended for plenum areas as they are less fire retardant and can release toxic gases like hydrochloric acid and dioxin when burned.
- 🏢 CMR (Communications Multi-Purpose Riser) cables are used vertically between floors in buildings and are designed to prevent fire spread, with less strict fire ratings than plenum cables.
- 🏠 CM (Communications Multi-Purpose) cables are general-use network cables with minimal fire restrictions, suitable for connecting devices to wall jacks.
- 💰 CM cables are the most cost-effective option among the three types of PVC-rated cables.
- 📈 The safety standards for plenum, riser, and CM cables decrease in that order, with plenum having the highest and CM the lowest.
Q & A
What is the primary difference between PVC rated network cables?
-The primary difference between PVC rated network cables is the type of outer jacket material and its fire resistance rating, which can be Plenum, Riser, or General Purpose.
Why are Plenum cables necessary in certain building environments?
-Plenum cables are necessary in plenum areas, which are spaces with open air flow circulation like the area between a drop ceiling and the structural ceiling. These cables are more fire-resistant and do not produce toxic fumes when burned, which is crucial for preventing harm to humans through air conditioning systems.
What does the term 'plenum' refer to in the context of network cables?
-In the context of network cables, 'plenum' refers to a space in a building where there is open air flow circulation, typically between the drop ceiling and the structural ceiling.
What is the abbreviation CMP and how does it relate to Plenum cables?
-CMP stands for Communications Multi-Purpose Plenum and relates to Plenum cables as it is a type of cable approved by Underwriters Laboratories for use in open air environments with high fire safety standards.
What material is used for the outer jacket of Plenum cables and why?
-The outer jacket of Plenum cables is made with special plastics and coated with Teflon FEP, a flame retardant made by DuPont, to ensure they are fire-resistant and do not release toxic gases when burned.
Why are non-plenum PVC cables not recommended for use in plenum areas?
-Non-plenum PVC cables are not recommended for use in plenum areas because they are not as fire retardant and can release toxic gases such as hydrochloric acid and dioxin when burned, posing a risk to human health.
What is the purpose of CMR rated cables and where are they typically installed?
-CMR rated cables, or Communications Multi-Purpose Cable Riser, are designed for vertical installation between floors in a building. They are used in risers or vertical shafts to prevent fires from spreading between floors.
How do the fire safety standards of CMR cables compare to Plenum cables?
-CMR cables have lower fire safety standards compared to Plenum cables and are not recommended for use in plenum areas due to their less stringent fire ratings.
What is the difference between CM and Plenum rated cables in terms of safety standards?
-CM, or Communications Multi-Purpose, cables have minimal fire restrictions and are used for general purposes, while Plenum rated cables have the highest safety standards, making them suitable for hazardous open air spaces.
Why are Plenum cables more expensive than non-plenum cables?
-Plenum cables are more expensive because they are made with special flame-retardant materials and must meet stringent fire safety test standards, ensuring they are more fire-resistant and do not produce toxic fumes when burned.
In what type of environment are CM cables typically used and why?
-CM cables are used in rooms and have minimal safety standards. They are typically used to connect computers or network devices to a wall jack for network access and are the cheapest option among the three types of PVC rated cables.
Outlines
🌐 Understanding PVC Rated Network Cables
This paragraph discusses the distinctions between different PVC rated network cables, focusing on their outer jackets rather than internal specifications. It explains that the choice of cable depends on the environment, with plenum cables being fire-resistant and non-toxic for use in open air spaces like those between drop ceilings and structural ceilings. These cables are certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and are more expensive due to their higher safety standards. Non-plenum cables, which are cheaper and can release toxic gases when burned, are not suitable for plenum areas. The paragraph also introduces CMR cables, which are designed for vertical installation between floors to prevent fire spread and have less stringent fire ratings than plenum cables.
🔌 General Use PVC Network Cables
The second paragraph elaborates on the use of CM cables, which are general-purpose PVC network cables with minimal fire restrictions. These are commonly used to connect devices like computers to wall jacks for network access and are the most cost-effective option among the three cable types discussed. The paragraph concludes by summarizing the applications and safety standards of plenum, riser, and CM cables, with plenum cables being the safest for use in drop ceilings or under floors, riser cables for in-wall installations between floors, and CM cables for general room use with the least stringent safety requirements.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡PVC
💡Plenum Cable
💡Riser Cable
💡General Purpose Cable
💡Fire Resistance
💡Toxic Fumes
💡Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
💡Teflon FEP
💡Cat 5, Cat 6, Cat 7
💡Cost
Highlights
The difference between PVC rated network cables lies in the outer jacket, not the internal wiring or category.
PVC ratings include plenum, riser, and general purpose cables, each designed for specific environments.
Plenum cables are used in spaces with open air flow circulation, such as between drop ceilings and structural ceilings.
Plenum cables must be more fire resistant and not produce toxic fumes when burned to prevent harm through air conditioning systems.
Plenum cables are also known as CMP (Communications Multi-Purpose Plenum) and are approved by Underwriters Laboratories for open air environments.
Plenum cables have a special plastic outer jacket coated with Teflon FEP, a flame retardant, and are designed for hazardous open air spaces.
Plenum cables are more expensive than non-plenum cables and are primarily used commercially.
PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride is the material used for the outer jackets of cables, with different ratings for various applications.
Non-plenum PVC cables are cheaper but not as fire retardant and can release toxic gases like hydrochloric acid and dioxin when burned.
CMR (Communications Multi-Purpose Cable Riser) cables are installed vertically between floors to prevent fire spread.
CMR cables have a lower fire rating than plenum cables and are less expensive, but should not be used in plenum areas.
CM (Communications Multi-Purpose) cables are for general use with minimal fire restrictions and are the cheapest option.
Plenum rated cables are used in drop ceilings or under floors and have the highest safety standards.
Riser cables are used between floors on and in walls and have lower safety standards than plenum cables.
CM cables are used in rooms and have minimal safety standards, making them suitable for basic network connections.
The video provides a comprehensive guide on choosing the right cable for different building environments based on safety and fire standards.
Transcripts
hello everyone in this video we're going
to talk about the difference between pvc
rated network cables now the difference
between these types of cables
it's not what's on the inside of the
cable and it's not whether it's a cat 5
cat 6 or cat 7. that doesn't matter
the difference is is what's on the
outside of the cable
and i'm talking about the outer jacket
that protects
the cable and these pvc ratings are
either plenum
riser or just a general purpose cable
so when you decide to use one of these
cables that will depend on the
environment that the cable will be used
for
and it's very important to know the
difference between these cables
and where to use them now just like its
name says
plenum cables should be used in plenum
areas now the term plenum refers to a
space
and a building where there is open air
flow circulation
and this is usually between the drop
ceiling and the structural ceiling
so as a result buildings that have
plenum spaces
where there is adequate open air flow
are more prone to fires
than buildings that don't have plenum
spaces so therefore
cables that run through these plenum
spaces
must meet certain requirements so first
the cable must be more
fire resistant and secondly they must
not produce
any toxic fumes if they are burned
because toxic
fumes in plenum areas can recirculate
through the air conditioning systems
and cause harm to humans so in this
environment this is where plenum cables
should be used now buildings that don't
have
plenum spaces will have air ducts
encapsulating the airflow
so there is no open air flow circulation
because of these air ducts
because the air is encapsulated in them
so the chances of a fire happening
and recirculating toxic fumes are
minimal
so here is an example where you could
use non-plenum cables
now plenum cables are also known as cmp
which stands for communications
multi-purpose plenum
plenum cables are approved by
underwriters laboratories
which is a global safety certification
company
and they have certified that these
cables can be used
in an open air environment and are
designed to meet strong
fire safety test standards now the outer
jacket and plenum cables are made with
special plastics
and are coated with teflon fep
which is a flame retardant made by
dupont
these cables are designed for hazardous
open
air spaces in a building and in addition
if they do
get burned they won't release any toxic
gases
now these cables are more expensive than
non-plenum cables
and are primarily used for commercial
use
now pvc or polyvinyl chloride
is the material that the outer jackets
of a cable are made of
and as i said before these cables have
different ratings
now pvc cables that are rated as
non-plenum
should not be used in plenum areas these
cables are a lot cheaper than plenum
cables
but the problem is is that they are not
as fire retardant
and in addition if these cables are
burned
they can release toxic gases such as
hydrochloric
acid and dioxin but as i said before
these cables should not be used in
plenum areas
now there is another type of pvc rated
cable
that is called cmr and cmr stands for
communications
multi-purpose cable riser and these
cables are
installed vertically that rise between
floors
in a building these cables are run
through risers or
vertical shafts and are designed to
prevent fires from spreading
between floors and a building the fire
rating of cmr cables are not as strict
as
plenum rated cables so they should not
be used in plenum
areas and cmr cables are also less
expensive
than plenum cables
and then finally there is pvc cm
cables cm or communications
multi-purpose
is a network cable for general use these
cables have
minimal fire restrictions this is a
cable that you would use to connect your
computer or
network device into a wall jack to
access
a network and these are the cheapest of
the three cables
so in conclusion plenum rated cables are
used
in drop ceilings or under floors
and have the highest safety standards
riser cables are used
on and in walls between floors and have
lower safety standards than plenum
cables
and cm cables are used in rooms and have
minimal safety standards so thank you
everyone for watching this video
i appreciate it please subscribe follow
me on twitter
and thank you for watching
you
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