sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Plenum cable above drop ceiling

Just started on a new site in Michigan and was setting my rings above the grid. I was told by the electrician that the code had change and that even in a non air return ceiling plenum cable was required. Iam still waiting for a call back from the inspector and I was wondering if anyone else had heard this

Have him show you in the code. Never heard of it.

I would check the spec's to see what the customer was asking for. I would also check with the electrical engineer who designed the job. Not sure what your codes are up there. It could be your electrician just pulling your leg.

I have seen that before, but it was due to a local ordinance in one county in Maryland. It's been quite a while and I really doubt that it is still being enforced. There are some instances in health care facilities where plenum low-smoke cable is required.

I can't find anything in the NEC about it, wording hasn't changed.

If it is a local code I'd still have to see it to believe it.

If it is the case, it's a local code. When I worked at the World Trade Center, The Port Authority of NY & NJ (the AHJ) spec'd plenum for everything, including inside pipe & floor ducts.

Sam

We get it for any job in Westerville, Ohio. Always plenum, no matter what. I myself have never seen the code in writing, as my boss is the one that always pulls the permits... but since this came up, I will ask him if he ever has. I know that the electric company there is municipally owned and operated, if that has any effect on it.

Yeah, it is a local ammendment. You won't find it in the NEC.

I'm pretty much with Tony- any cable we stock is plenum. But if you have a large data job that requires CAT5 and you can use riser it pays not to use plenum. That's also one reason we use CAT3 for voice, unlike CAT5 or 6 there is little difference in cost between riser and plenum so for voice it's always plenum.

-Hal

It is the same deal in Cleveland. I use plenum for everything. The University of Toledo also requires all voice/data cabling to be plenum.

I was the foreman when we rewired Lenox Hill Hospital here in NYC. New CO, battery plant, key equipment, risers, station wiring, sets. About 3,000 stations. A square city block plus in Manhattan.

The job was bid for all plenum wiring. When I looked over the complex I found there was one room that required plenum wiring.

The savings were huge. On a smaller job they would have been comparatively smaller and if you're a small shop I can see where it might not pay to store two types of cable. But certainly look if you've got a big cable job.

Sam