Your company is upgrading its data center and requires new networking cables to be run through the space above a false ceiling where environmental air flows. Which type of cable should you install to comply with strict fire codes?
Plenum-rated Category 6 cable
Standard unshielded twisted pair Category 5e cable
Shielded twisted pair Category 7 cable designed for direct burial
Plenum-rated cables are designed to limit the spread of fire and produce less smoke than standard cables when exposed to flame. Therefore, in environments where air circulates for heating, ventilation, or air conditioning—and in plenum spaces specifically—using plenum-rated cables is crucial to be in compliance with building codes, and to ensure the safety of the building's occupants in case of a fire. The typical jacket material for plenum-rated cables is low-smoke polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or fluorinated ethylene polymer (FEP), which is resistant to burning. While the other options may all be cable types used in network setups, they are not the recommended choice for spaces where specific fire codes come into play like a plenum space.
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