When Should You Purchase Plenum Cables?

Plenum cables are specially manufactured for use plenum spaces, which are rarely- accessed spaces like those above ceiling panels or between walls. Cables.com offers a variety of US-manufactured plenum-rated cables intended for safe use out of sight in your home or office space. 

What Are Plenum Cables?

In any building, plenum spaces are the areas designated for air circulation. These are typically the spaces above ceilings or below floors where heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems direct airflow throughout the building. Unlike standard wiring, plenum cables are designed specifically for installation in these air circulation spaces. They’re encased in a special, flame-resistant jacket material that meets strict safety codes for smoke and fire prevention. The primary goal of plenum cables is to reduce the risk of fire hazards and minimize toxic fumes in the event of a fire, protecting building occupants and first responders.

Compliance with Building Codes and Regulations

Building codes and fire safety regulations in many regions mandate the use of plenum-rated cables in specific areas of commercial and multi-residential buildings. This requirement often applies to cables running through plenum spaces or any area connected to the building’s HVAC system. These codes, such as the National Electrical Code (NEC) in the United States, are set to prevent fire hazards in spaces where air circulation can spread smoke and flames.

If you’re overseeing a construction or renovation project, understanding these codes is essential for ensuring compliance. Installing non-plenum cables where plenum-rated cables are required can result in safety code violations, costly fines, or forced rewiring to meet standards. By opting for plenum cables from the start, you can avoid these issues and adhere to safety regulations.

When Should You Buy Plenum Cables?

You can probably guess why running your power and network cables through plenum spaces would be ideal. Doing so keeps cables out of sight, reducing the unsightly appearance of clutter. But more importantly, installing your cables in plenum areas keeps them away from any unintentional handling or movement that might interrupt their use.

Unfortunately, this also means that because these spaces can be difficult to access, cable being installed there should be sturdy and built to last, as replacing them would be extremely inconvenient. Cables.com stocks plenum-rated cables that are intended to operate safely and reliably, and today we'll take a look at some of those offerings, particularly our plenum network patch cables.

Plenum Network Cables

Our Category 6 Plenum Rated Shielded Ethernet Cables feature shielded construction in order to block EMI or electromagnetic interference, ensuring clean signal transmission. They're built with a CMP (plenum) 23 AWG jacket and operate at bandwidths of up to 550 MHz. The Teflon-coated jacket is intended to comply with fire safety codes, which means that it's less likely to burn in the event of a fire, which will slow the spread of fire through those plenum spaces. While the jacket itself won't stop a fire, it won't emit toxic fumes as it burns. 

Plenum-rated USB and HDMI Cables

Besides our plenum shielded ethernet cables, Cables.com also offers plenum HDMI cables and plenum USB cables. If you have a video feed that you need to run through an above-ceiling space, then the National Electric Code and National Fire Prevention Association require that video cable to be plenum-rated.

You can find 4K Javelin Active Optical Plenum Fiber Optic HDMI cables at Cables.com. This plug-and-play HDMI cable requires no external power supply, and it's capable of transmitting HDMI signals far beyond the typical constrictions of copper HDMI cords. With this fiber optic HDMI cable, all PC and HDTV resolutions are supported. It's capable of handling any resolution or color-depth with no image compression as long as the max data rate is less than approximately 10.2 GBPS.

Extend the Range of Your USB Devices with Plenum USB Cable Extender. Plenum USB cable extenders allow you to connect your USB devices and peripherals to your laptop or desktop up to 49 feet away! And because these are plenum rated cables, they can even be run through walls or above a ceiling for inconspicuous installations.

Plenum SVGA Cables

If you have a video feed that you need to run through an above-ceiling air circulation space, then the National Electric Code (NEC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) require that video cable to be plenum rated. Our plenum SVGA cables can pass resolutions of up to 2048x1536 for PCs and up to 1080p for HDTV. They're proudly manufactured here in the US, and they're backed by a lifetime warranty. 

Why Buy Plenum Cables from Cables.com?

Cables.com is a unique cables provider in that it gives cusomers the option of ordering cables in custom colors, lengths, and configurations. We can manufacture your plenum cables to your specifications, right down to the printing on the sleeves. Just select your cable assembly components in the drop down menus on our Custom Cable Builder Template and place your order. Our made-to-order Datacomm cables are manufactured in our New York facility, and are ready to ship quickly to your location anywhere in the United States. Contact Us or send us an email at sales@cables.com to discuss your custom cable order. We can also offer our cables for purchase in bulk pricing, guaranteeing that you'll be able to get all the cable you need for your job at the best prices!

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