Southwire Plenum 250 555080423

The Southwire 555080423 is a plenum rated cable supplied in a 250 foot package, for installation in air handling spaces.

Plenum rated cable exists because of a specific fire safety problem. Where cable is run through a space used for environmental air, typically the void above a suspended ceiling that serves as a return air path, a fire involving the cable jacket would fill that plenum with smoke and combustion products, and the air handling system would then distribute them throughout the building. Standard cable jacket materials produce dense, toxic smoke when they burn.

Plenum rated cable uses jacket and insulation materials formulated to produce substantially less smoke and to resist flame spread, and it is tested to a specific standard for this application. Where the code requires plenum rated cable, substituting standard cable is a serious violation and a genuine life safety issue, not a technical formality.

The requirement applies to any cable routed through a plenum space, including thermostat and control wiring, communications cable, and low voltage circuits, regardless of the voltage involved.

Determining whether a space is a plenum is the practical question. A ceiling void used as a return air path is; a void with ducted return generally is not. Where there is doubt, the conservative choice is plenum rated cable.

Applications include commercial buildings with plenum return ceilings, and any installation where cable passes through air handling spaces. Note this item is currently catalogued under plenums and may warrant recategorisation under wiring.

Brand

Southwire

SKU

555080423

Category

Plenums

Weight

13.5 lbs

Dimensions

10.50" x 10.50" x 5.50"

Price

$195.00

Availability

In stock

Rating

4.7 / 5.0