Plenum cables

Examples of fluoroplastics include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), ethylene—chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE), ethylene—tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), etc (see Fluorine compounds, organic). These polymers have outstanding electrical properties, such as low power loss and dielectric constant, coupled with very good flame resistance and low smoke emission during fire. Therefore, in spite of their relatively high price, they are used extensively in telecommunication wires, especially for production of plenum cables. Plenum areas provide a convenient, economical way to run electrical wires and cables and to interconnect them throughout nonresidential buildings (14). Development of special flame-retardant low smoke compounds, some based on PVC, have provided lower cost competition to the fluoroplastics for indoors application such as plenum cable, Riser Cables, etc. 

After 10 years of unabated rapid growth in the plenum wire and cable market, fluoropolymers including PVDE, primarily the flexible VDE/HEP copolymer, are beginning to lose market share to lower priced PVC-akoys. The loss of market share in the plenum market probably wkl be compensated by growth of PVDE in other fields thus during the mid-1990s the total volume of PVDE may not grow (188). 

The PVC formulations shown in Table 2 represent typical compounds used by the wine and cable industry. PVC compounders have developed new PVC-based formulations with very good fire and smoke properties (can pass the UL 910 Steiner Tunnel test) that compete with the more expensive fluoropolymers. These can be used in fabricating telecommunication cables usable for plenum area appHcations. 

Interspersed among the principal lattice positions are 162 secondary positions for 66 safe Is, instrument rods, tie bolts connecting the water plenum to the top shield, and special components. The safety rods use a winch-cable system that releases when the clutch is deenergized to drop the safeu rods into the core. 

In office buildings it is very common to have plenums, i.e. spaces above rooms where the air handling system is located, together with electrical wires and cables, as well as abundant wood and other construction materials. These concealed spaces are usually ca. 1 m (3 ft) high and are invisible from the room below. 

PVDF—Abbreviation used to denote polyvinyl difluoride. A type of material used for cable jacketing. Often used in plenum-rated cables. Preform—A glass structure from which an optical fiber waveguide may be drawn. 

The single largest application for ECTFE has been as primary insulation and jacketing55 for voice and copper cables used in building plenums.56 In automotive... 

This anhydrous zinc borate is recommended for use in engineering plastics processed at temperatures higher than 300°C which is the upper limit of Firebrake ZB processing temperature. It is reported to be an effective smoke suppressant in chlorofluoropolymers for plenum cable applications.66 Recently it was claimed that this anhydrous zinc borate can replace antimony oxide (or sodium antimonate) completely in high temperature polyamide applications. Like its hydrated analog, this anhydrous zinc borate can also improve CTI, thermal stability, and the color stability of polyamide containing halogen sources.67 68... 

The independence of Chapter 8 is particularly important when dealing with plenum cables, for which the charging section is 300.22, which reads as follows ... 

It is of interest to point out that there has been much debate regarding the use of plenum cables, owing to various attempts to replace them by cables complying with UL 2424. These efforts were unsuccessful, because they have been seen by committee members, NFPA members and public officials as an attempt by certain manufacturers to gain market share without a justification based on fire safety or fire losses. 

Strong push by some fluoropolymer suppliers and fluoropolymer cable manufacturers for adoption of specific standards that promote use of fluoropolymers (e.g., proposed limited combustible Plenum rating in the United States)... 

Khan, M.M., Bill, R.G. Jr., and Alpert, R.L., Screening of plenum cables using a small-scale fire test protocol, Fire Mater., 2006, 30, 65-76. 

The single largest application for ECTEE has been as primary insulation and jacketing [62] for voice and copper cables used in building plenums [63]. In automotive applications, ECTEE is used for jackets of cables inside fuel tanks for level sensors, for hookup wires, and in heating cables for car seats. Chemically foamed ECTEE is used in some cable constructions [64]. In the chemical process industry, it is often used in chlorine/caustic environment in cell covers, outlet boxes, lined pipes (Eigure 4.26), and tanks. 

PVDF is the third most widely used fluoropolymer, after polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP). The worldwide consumption of PVDF was approximately 15,000 metric tons in 2001 and is growing at an annual rate of 6-8%. PVDF applications have been expanded over the past 40 years because of its unique physical properties, and have over 30 years of proven and field performance data on thermal, chemical, radiation, and weathering applications. PVDF applications include, but are not limited to, chemical processing of pipes and components, semiconductor, architectural finishes and coatings, electrical plenum, cable jacketing. 

FireGuard. [Teknor Apex] Plenum compd. low smoke and flame c( npds. for cable jacketing. 

Electrical properties of fluoropolymers are highly valuable in electronic and electrical applications. In data communications, for example, FEP is used to insulate cables installed in air-handling spaces (plenums) in office buildings. FEP provides the excellent dielectric properties these cables require to perform well at high data-transmission rates as well as... 

Plenum Cable - Refers to cables that are routed through the air plenums in a building. Flame resistance of perfluoropol5miers such as FEP is an important consideration in plenum applications because these plastics do not increase the combustible fuel loading of the plenum. 

Composition for rise and plenum cables. [Datafrom Abu-Aii, a f, Szyiakowski, G R, Albrinck, A C, European Patent EP2534201, Dec. 19, 2012, General Cable Technologies Corporation ]... 

Low extractable, plenum cable jacket. [Data from Grossman, R. R, J. Vinyl Additive Technol., 5, 1, 37-39, 1999.1... 

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