Carlon Structured Cable Management Systems Handbook - Low Res - Manual (Page 62)

60
Section 12.
Abandoned Cables
The 2002 National Electrical Code (NEC) took the first
steps in addressing the issue of removing abandoned
cables for air handling spaces. Cables abandoned and
left in the plenums becomes a safety hazard to the
occupants of a building in case of a fire by adding to
the fuel source in the plenum.
Cables approved for the Plenum have been evaluated
for a maximum peak optical density, a maximum
average optical density, and a maximum flame spread
per UL 910 (NFPA 262) “Test for Flame-Propagation
and Smoke-Density Values for Electrical and Optical-
Fiber Cables Used in Spaces Transporting Environmental
Air.” These cables are listed for use within a plenum
without being enclosed in a metal raceway system as
described in Sections 300.22(B) and (C) of the National
Electrical Code (NEC).
A series of proposals were submitted to the National
Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to revise the 1999
NEC for Articles 300, 640, 645, 725, 760, 770, 800, 820,
and 830 to require all abandoned cables to be removed
from the plenum.
Only Code Making Panel 3, who oversees Article 300
of the NEC, rejected this proposal with the following
substantiation:
“The submitter’s own substantiation states there
is no indication that the additional cables in plenums
caused an added fire hazard and that the fire record
of cables in plenums is excellent. Requiring
abandoned cables to be removed that are not
intended for future use would be almost impossible
to enforce. Many cables are installed for future use
and cables are often swapped at patch panels to
provide a very effective method of moving a
computer or a piece of telecommunications
equipment without having to pull a new cable.”
Gross Automation (877) 268-3700 · www.carlonsales.com · [email protected]