HDMI cables

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goldstar

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Location
New Jersey
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Electrical Contractor
I purchased an HDMI cable for a TV today and the counter guy asked me if I wanted the HDMI cable that was rated for inside walls. Since I was installing inside an exterior wall I said yes.

Are we now required to have HDMI cables rated for inside walls ? Do they carry line voltage ?
 
All low voltage cable run concealed within the walls or ceiling of a structure has always been required to be listed. Speaker, coax, data, thermostat and HDMI cables to name a few. Marking on the jacket must be CM, CL2, CL2R, etc that I'm sure you are familiar with.

I think the confusion with HDMI cables is that they would usually be run in smurf tubing negating the need to be listed. Not really a bad idea to run it in some kind of wireway. One staple or sheetrock screw out of place and you will wind up replacing the whole cable.

-Hal
 
This is not a new requirement just one that has been overlooked for a long time.
There are a lot of Code violations out there. With the advent of flat screen TV's mounted on walls no one wants to see cables drooping down from the TV to the cable box. If an EC didn't do the work then the HO did with no reference to any Code books.

Now, aside from "cause that's what the Code says" what is the logic behind the Code section ? What possible hazard could be created from having a non-rated HDMI cable or RG-6U Coax inside a wall ?
 
There are a lot of Code violations out there. With the advent of flat screen TV's mounted on walls no one wants to see cables drooping down from the TV to the cable box. If an EC didn't do the work then the HO did with no reference to any Code books.

Now, aside from "cause that's what the Code says" what is the logic behind the Code section ? What possible hazard could be created from having a non-rated HDMI cable or RG-6U Coax inside a wall ?

I do not know about CM type cable, which is rated for in wall use, over a non-rated cable. I do know that CMR and CMP cables, which is all we used in commercial, have to meet vertical flame spread requirements and low smoke producing characteristics, respectively.

And while it is not the end of the world to run a non rated HDMI cable into a wall 4 feet, there has to be a cut off somewhere. Running a short jumper of non plenum rated cable in an air handling space isn't going to kill everyone if the building catches on fire... But the way the code is written, you can't have it there.
 
I do not know about CM type cable, which is rated for in wall use, over a non-rated cable. I do know that CMR and CMP cables, which is all we used in commercial, have to meet vertical flame spread requirements and low smoke producing characteristics, respectively.

And while it is not the end of the world to run a non rated HDMI cable into a wall 4 feet, there has to be a cut off somewhere. Running a short jumper of non plenum rated cable in an air handling space isn't going to kill everyone if the building catches on fire... But the way the code is written, you can't have it there.
Thanks J. That's the kind of answer I was looking for. I knew there had to be some logic behind the writing of the Code section.
 
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