Carlon Structured Cable Management Systems Handbook - Low Res - Manual (Page 64)

62
mitted and allows nonmetallic raceways such as
Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing (ENT), Rigid Nonmetallic
Conduit (RNC), nonmetallic Wireway and nonmetallic
Surface Raceway to be used under a raised floor for
information technology equipment.
Articles 770 and 800 recognize listed nonmetallic
raceways for use in a plenum. These listed raceways
are classified under Optical Fiber/Communications
Cable Raceway (QAZM) in the Electrical Construction
Equipment Directory published by Underwriters
Laboratories Inc.
Nonmetallic plenum raceways are suitable for use in
ducts, plenums or other spaces used for environmental
air as described in Section 300.22. These raceways are
permitted to be used with Types OFNP and OFCP
nonconductive and conductive optical fiber plenum
cables as described in Section 770.53(A) and Type
CMP communications plenum cable as described in
Section 800.53.
Nonmetallic plenum rated raceways have the same
fire-resistant and low smoke-producing characteristics
as the plenum rated cables. These raceways exhibit a
maximum peak optical density of 0.5, a maximum
average optical density of 0.15, and a maximum flame
spread distance of 5 feet when tested in accordance
with UL standard UL2024, Optical Fiber Cable
Raceway.
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 fire by adding to the
fuel source in the plenum.
Raceways are the solution to the abandoned cable
issue. A building designed or retrofitted with raceways
will easily allow the building to be code compliant and
up to date with technology as technology continues to
grow and obsoletes current optical fiber and communi-
cations cabling methods.
Gross Automation (877) 268-3700 · www.carlonsales.com · [email protected]