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www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance OctOber 2011 27
:: installation ::
The National Electrical Code is pub-
lished by the National Fire Protection
Association with revisions on a three-
year schedule. The 2011 NEC, which
replaces the 2008 NEC, was released
by NFPA in August 2010. There were
many changes of interest to manu-
facturers, installers and users of com-
munications cable and connectivity
products.
This is the fourth article in a
series of nine articles, sponsored
by the Communications Cable and
Connectivity Association, concern-
ing those relevant changes in the NEC.
The initial article was an introduction
to the NEC, its scope and organiza-
tion. The second article discussed the
changes in types and installation rules
for data/comm raceways and the third
discussed the changes in the permit-
ted applications of data/comm cables
in air handling spaces.
This article deals with changes in
the wiring rules for data/comm cables
in riser applications. In addition to riser
cables (CMR, OFNR, CL2R, etc.), ple-
num cables (CMP, OFNP, CL2P, etc.)
are used in riser applications because
plenum cables are permitted to substi-
tute for riser cables. General-purpose
cables (CM, OFN, CL2, etc.) are also
permitted to be used in some riser
applications, but the typical riser cable
is either a riser-rated or plenum-rated
cable.
This article deals with changes in
the wiring rules for plenum, riser and
general-purpose data/comm cables in
riser applications.
1. Types CL2P, CL2R and CL2, Class 2
Plenum, Riser and General-Purpose
Cables
2. Types CL3P, CL3R and CL3, Class 3
Plenum, Riser and General-Purpose
Cables
3. Types OFNP, OFNR and OFN,
Nonconductive Optical Fiber
Plenum, Riser and General-Purpose
Cables
4. Types OFCP, OFCR and OFC,
Conductive Optical Fiber Plenum,
Riser and General-Purpose Cables
5. Types CMP, CMR, CM and CNG,
Communications Plenum, Riser and
General- Purpose Cables
6. Types CATVP, CATVR and CATV,
Cable TV Plenum, Riser and
General-Purpose Cables
7. Types FPLP, FPLR and FPL, Power-
Limited Fire Alarm Plenum, Riser
and General-Purpose Cables
listing requirements for
data-communications riser cables
All data/comm riser cables are listed
as “suitable for use in a vertical run
in a shaft or from floor to floor” and
also listed as “having fire-resistant
characteristics capable of prevent-
ing the carrying of fire from floor to
floor.” The listing requirements are fol-
lowed by an informational note refer-
ring to ANSI/UL 1666-2002, Test for
Flame Propagation Height of Electrical
and Optical-Fiber Cable Installed
Vertically in Shafts. The test uses a
substantial fire source to determine
Data-communications cablesin riser applications
as the 2011 national Electrical Code indicates, it’s not
just riser-rated cables that can be used in riser spaces.
By stanlEy Kaufman, CaBlEsafE inC.
A simple way to comply with these
requirements is to use plenum or riser
cables in all riser applications.
28
:: installation ::
oCtoBEr 2011 Cabling Installation & Maintenance www.cablinginstall.com
whether or not a cable will spread fire
to the floor above.
Data-communications cables in riser
applications
Consistent with their listings in the
2008 and 2011 NEC, all data/comm
riser cables are permitted to be used
in all riser applications. In addition,
each type of data/comm plenum cable,
is permitted to substitute for its riser
cable because the severity of test-
ing requirements for plenum cables
exceeds the requirements for testing
riser cables.
In the 2008 and 2011 NEC, there
are three situations in which all data/
comm cables (plenum, riser and gen-
eral-purpose) are permitted to be
installed:
1. In fireproof shafts with firestops at
each floor
2. In one- and two-family dwellings
3. In metal raceway
Other than in one- and two-fam-
ily dwellings the 2008 NEC permits
general-purpose data/comm cables
(Types CL2, CL3, OFN, OFC, CM,
CMG, CATV and FPL) to be used in
vertical runs penetrating only one floor.
However these general-purpose cables
are not permitted to be installed in
the same floor penetration as the floor
penetration containing riser or ple-
num cables. The floor penetration con-
taining riser or plenum cables was
typically part of a riser system that
extended to multiple floors, and the
inclusion of general-purpose cables in
the floor penetration could result in fire
spread from floor to floor to floor.
In the 2011 NEC the applications of
optical fiber and communications data/
comm cables have been simplified.
The provision for using Types OFN,
OFC, CM, CMG and CATV general-
purpose cables in vertical runs pen-
etrating only one floor (in their own
dedicated floor penetration) has been
deleted. These applications now
require riser cable (or plenum cable as
a substitute for riser cable).
The applications of class 2, class 3
and power-limited fire alarm general-
purpose cables remain the same in the
2011 NEC as in the 2008 NEC.
Section 725.154(G) permits gen-
eral-purpose communications cables
(Types CM and CMG) to substitute
for general-purpose class 2 and class
3 cables (Types CL2 and CL3) but
requires the substitute cables to be
installed in accordance with the wir-
ing rules for class 2 and class 3 cables.
A similar rule in section 760.154(D)
permits Types CM and CMG to sub-
stitute for Type FPL but requires the
substitute cables to be installed in
CCCA elects officers, executive committee, pledges more vigilance
The Communications Cable and Connectivity Association (CCCA) recently
held its annual meeting, at which it elected new officers. Kevin Ressler of
TE Connectivity was elected chairman of the board; Randy Mortensen
of Anixter was elected secretary; and Rob Wessels of CommScope was
elected treasurer. They are joined by executive committee members Kevin
St. Cyr of Berk-Tek and Gary Stanitis of Daikin America.
CCCA executive director Frank Peri said, “I’m looking forward to work-
ing with CCCA’s new officers and governing body, who are equally com-
mitted to preventing potentially hazardous, non-compliant cable from
being imported, distributed and sold in the U.S. market. We still have a
long way to go. Through our industry alerts and continuing work with UL,
we are making progress.”
Ressler commented, “I want to congratulate outgoing officers and
members of the executive committee for their valuable contributions,
which guided CCCA’s growth and raised value to members and the struc-
tured cabling industry. My goal is to continue a tradition of growth by
broadening our membership base and supporting CCCA initiatives that
strengthen the quality and integrity of our industry.”
Also recently, the CCCA welcomed comCables and Panduit as members
of the association. Upon becoming a member, Panduit’s Tom Kelly stated,
“Panduit has been impressed with CCCA’s initiatives and activity to stem
the importation of potentially hazardous, non-compliant cables into North
America. We view CCCA as a strong industry association and excellent
platform for Panduit, and other members, to address the proliferation of
counterfeit products plaguing all levels of the structured cabling industry.”
-Patrick McLaughlin
R
ProMod_CIM_1108 1 7/14/11 10:25 AM
29www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance oCtoBEr 2011
:: installation ::
accordance with the wiring rules for
fire alarm cables. Consequently, Types
CM and CMG cables are not permit-
ted to be used in riser applications
penetrating only one floor when they
are being used for a communications
application (Article 800) but they are
permitted to be used in riser applica-
tions penetrating only one floor when
they are being used in a class 2, class 3
or power-limited fire alarm circuit.
A simple way to comply with these
complicated code requirements is to
use plenum or riser cables in all riser
applications. A further simplification is
to use communications cables in place
of class 2 or class 3 cables; if you do so,
it will not be necessary to determine
if the circuit is a data circuit or a com-
munications circuit.
The deadline for proposals for the
2014 NEC is November 4, 2011.
My next article will deal with cable
routing assemblies.
Author’s disclaimer: This paper, pro-
vided by the Communication Cable and
Connectivity Association (“CCCA”),
is offered for general information and
educational purposes. It is not offered,
intended, nor should it be relied upon
as legal advice. The paper does not
set forth the views of any member or
any other party, nor may it be taken
as such. CCCA makes no warranty
regarding the accuracy of the infor-
mation provided in this paper, and
expressly disclaims any implied war-
ranties and any liability for use of the
paper or reliance on views expressed in
it. CCCA does not endorse, approve, or
certify any information set forth in this
paper, nor does it guarantee the accu-
racy, completeness, efficacy, timeliness,
or correct sequencing of such informa-
tion. Use of the paper and the views
expressed in it is voluntary, and reliance
on it should only be undertaken after
an independent review of its accuracy,
completeness, efficacy, and timeliness,
and based on the individual facts and
circumstances of a user.
StAnley KAufmAn, Ph.D. is prin-
cipal of Cablesafe inc. and a consul-
tant to the Communications Cable and
Connectivity association (CCCa; www.
cccassoc.org). He is a member of nEC
Panel 12 (responsible for article 645)
and Panel 16 (responsible for optical
fiber and communications cables).