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Plenum Rated CAT 5e Cable - What is Plenum?

[Q] What is Plenum rated cable, and do I need it?

[A] Plenum rated cable generally has the same data transmission performance specifications as regular CAT5e, but there are some differences in the wire pair coating, and the outer jacket of the cable itself.

Plenum rated CAT5e cable has a jacket that meets specific ANSI requirements to be flame retardant and have low smoke production. The idea being that if the building is involved in a fire, the Cat5e Plenum cable will not burn as easy as a standard PVC jacket, and will produce less smoke than a typical Cat5e cable if it does catch fire. The only drawback to this theory has to do with the fact that if Plenum rated CAT5e cable actually does catch fire, it has been reported that it can actually burn at hotter temperatures than a PVC jacketed Cat5e cable.

Deciding if you need plenum typically will come down to specific requirements of the code dictating certain aspects of the job. For example, if you were making an office that was HIPPA compliant, Plenum rated cable would most likely be required to meet the code specifications for that building. Most users and installers will never have a need for this type of cable. Also, Plenum rated cable is about three times the cost of regular PVC jacketed CAT5e cable.

Always take your time and make sure that you are actually getting what you need for the installation. There are many IT professionals that will quote certain types of material for a specified job, just because it's available. No need to waste the extra money, especially given the fact that you will not see any improvement in performance. Plenum rated cable is a popular choice for many installations, but it is certainly only a requirement in very rare situations.

If you have a need for Plenum rated cable for your application, CAT 5 Cable Company will produce any of our CAT5e patch and crossover cables using Plenum material. This will be a custom quote, so please call us anytime at 866-835-2285, or Email us at customerservice@cat-5-cable-company.com. We will be happy to make you a customer order of Plenum CAT5e patch and crossover cables.

RELATED FAQ QUESTION: What is the difference between patch cable and crossover cable?

Keywords: Plenum cable, CAT5e, patch cable, crossover cable



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