Definition of Plenum Fiber Cable

Plenum Fiber Cable is the type of fiber optic cable that must meet specific safety standards as well accomplished by the special plastic jacket.  In most cases, the Plenum Fiber Cable is applied in areas between the floors. However, it does pass through the plenum spaces. Consequently, they are commonly laid in the building ceiling and well designed to facilitate smooth circulation of air conditioning throughout the building. 

Description of Plenum Fiber Cable

Plenum fiber optic cable is a 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 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.

Overview of Plenum Fiber Cable

According to National Electric Code (NEC), a plenum is a "compartment or chamber to which one or more air ducts are connected and forms part of the air distribution system." that is to say, as a plenum, the space above an acoustic tile ceiling would have to extend above other rooms in the same building or be open to ducts connecting it to other parts of the building. The concern is that during a fire if there is burning material in a plenum air space, smoke and fumes can travel through air ducts to the whole building. For this reason, there are codes to restrict the types of materials (such as cables) that can be placed in the plenum.

Conclusion

Today, many buildings in the hot areas are adopting the Plenum Fiber Cable. If you take a walk around the town, you will realize the rate of Plenum Fiber Cable installation is high. This is because people have realized that, Plenum Fiber Cable is the most suitable fiber optic cable for house air conditioning.  However, Plenum Fiber Cable is very expensive and can only be afforded by wealthy people. For that reason, it is commonly found in urban residential buildings.