Marden, good point. I see we're going to have this conversation in stereo. FYI, VL posted the same question on the FCTF board _smiles_ and you are welcome to check in there to see other replies or participate, as well.
Sometimes local fire codes come into play, but there are other conditions to consider as well.
Plenum, or air passages where air flows take place throughout the structure posing the threat of circulating smoke conditions and fire, such as above ceilings, in apartment building risers, etc., should be provisioned with cable that has been treated with plenum rated materials, as you suggested, and you are correct.
One means of satisfying the toxic threat of PVC fumes, however, is to contain the cabling in steel pipes or conduits, which of course is a much more expensive way out. But if there are other synergistic reasons for having conduits in place, such as for organizing and administrative purposes, then you can kill two birds with one stone.
This issue can be taken to extremes, I've found, and in the end most owners from a practical view tend to ignore many of the guidelines, or regard them as irrelevant. Are they irrelevant, in fact? I'll leave that one to others here to answer.
Regards, Frank Coluccio |
