Plenum vs Riser Cable - Plenum cable is only required for spaces that can facilitate air movement...

[G+_Fred Sr Bliss]

Plenum vs Riser Cable - Plenum cable is only required for spaces that can facilitate air movement for heating and air conditioning systems. The cheaper riser cable can be used in dead air spaces between the walls and can penetrate floors.

[G+_Akira Yamanita]

Single family dewllings have different codes and you can use any cable in most areas. However, I choose to use riser rated cable for home. It's not much more expensive and it's a lot cheaper than plenum rated cable.

[G+_Jim Hofmann]

Agreed. I tried to find an "official" definition, IEEE or National Electical Code but they just seemed more confusing. Wiki has a nice one, check the pixs. I like pixs. :) en.wikipedia.org - Plenum space - Wikipedia

[G+_Jim Hofmann]

Oh, another thing. If your throwing a single cable across the attic, ah OK. But a large bundle is another. In commercial buildings a fireman would punch a hole in the ceiling to get to the fire and a rats nest of cabling would fall down entangling or at least impeding there way. It's now law in commercial buildings to use J-Hooks or some sort of supporting method. I don't think it's required for residential but either way it's probably a good idea.

[G+_Jason Marsh]

As I understand it, riser will basically self-extinguish or otherwise impedes the rate at which fire will spread along (or up) the jacket. And plenum doesn't let off a bunch of noxious gasses in a fire event. So, shouldn't we already have a solution to both in one jacket?

 

There should be a Riser- and Plenum-rated cable.

 

In commercial installations, what does one have to do to run a networking cable through a plenum space and then up or down to an adjacent level? (And still remain code compliant, of course.)

 

If you've got a fire on your hands, I think the building materials, furnishings, printers, monitors, and workstations are going to give off far more deadly gasses than the low-voltage cabling could ever hope to.

 

It all comes down to the Kalifornia effect. I've seen food products with proposition 65 warnings on them. Huh?

 

Pretty soon Kalifornia will require appliance manufacturers to build icemakers such that they imprint a prop 65 warning on the ice cubes because, when melted, they pose a drowning risk.

[G+_Jason Brown]

I was asking myself this question after watching Know How a couple episodes ago. I did some research and I don't believe most homes have any plenum spaces in your typical two story or single level ranch homes.

[G+_Akira Yamanita]

Jason Marsh You can use plenum rated cable for all installations. For business installations, we don’t bother stocking any other spools.

[G+_Jim Hofmann]

Yea, most 1/2 story houses are ducted but there's always that one. Where they don't want to under cut the door because the return is in the hallway and just cut through the wall and put in grills. That space between the studs is now plenum. And of course this is where we'll run our cable because we can just remove the grills and reach in. :)

[G+_Jim Hofmann]

As for the Kalifornia Prop 65, I read this site, https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/general-info/proposition-65-plain-language. Seems like a good idea to know that a product contains toxic or carcenigenic chemicals. Especially, when you get rid of it.

The icemaker seemed like a strange product but the old stuff had R-22 and even the new stuff may still use ammonia both of which was highly toxic. Heard many stories from old mechanics working on large refrigeration machine being injured or killed. I believe a mechanic is still required to have a special certification to work with ammonia. So having a label saying this will kill you doesn't sound like a bad idea. IMHO :)

oehha.ca.gov - Proposition 65 in Plain Language

[G+_Jason Marsh]

Jim Hofmann Some of those guys were probably working on systems filled with propane. Yup, it's a pretty good refrigerant. Better put out that smoke before servicing, though.

 

Better not put any prop 65 warning on my medical cannabis. Not that I'd notice, what with my eyes being half-closed and no thoughts except "what's in the fridge?" ;)

[G+_Jim Hofmann]

Jason Marsh Hadn't heard about that but on the old systems the oil was carried by the refrigerant and there were a number of stories about guys not pumping the system down properly then using their torch to open a fitting. If they were fast enough they just got singed.

 

But if the fridge has R-123A I bet it has one. Hahaha.