[Q] What is Plenum rated cable, and do I need it?
[A] Plenum rated cable generally has the same data transmission
performance specifications as regular CAT5e, but there
are some differences in the wire pair coating, and the outer
jacket of the cable itself.
Plenum
rated CAT5e cable has a jacket that meets specific ANSI
requirements to be flame retardant and have low smoke production.
The idea being that if the building is involved in a fire, the
Cat5e Plenum cable will not burn as easy as a standard PVC jacket,
and will produce less smoke than a typical Cat5e cable if it
does catch fire. The only drawback to this theory has to do
with the fact that if Plenum rated CAT5e cable actually does
catch fire, it has been reported that it can actually burn at
hotter temperatures than a PVC jacketed Cat5e cable.
Deciding
if you need plenum typically will come down to specific requirements
of the code dictating certain aspects of the job. For example,
if you were making an office that was HIPPA compliant, Plenum
rated cable would most likely be required to meet the code specifications
for that building. Most users and installers will never have
a need for this type of cable. Also, Plenum rated cable is about
three times the cost of regular PVC jacketed CAT5e cable.
Always
take your time and make sure that you are actually getting what
you need for the installation. There are many IT professionals
that will quote certain types of material for a specified job,
just because it's available. No need to waste the extra money,
especially given the fact that you will not see any improvement
in performance. Plenum rated cable is a popular choice for many
installations, but it is certainly only a requirement in very
rare situations.
If
you have a need for Plenum rated cable for your application,
CAT 5 Cable Company will produce any of our CAT5e patch and crossover cables using Plenum material. This will
be a custom quote, so please call us anytime at 866-835-2285,
or Email us at customerservice@cat-5-cable-company.com.
We will be happy to make you a customer order of Plenum CAT5e
patch and crossover cables.
RELATED
FAQ QUESTION: What
is the difference between patch cable and crossover cable?
Keywords: Plenum cable, CAT5e, patch cable, crossover cable
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