Plenum cable for Satellite system question

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wshoard

wshoard

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Tallahassee, FL
We have a new project starting soon where the indoor cabling is required to be Plenum Rated RG-6. We will be using PVC RG-6 for all outdoor runs.

My question is: Can the PVC cable be used past the cable P.O.E. into the building to the ground block location, and if so how far, or does the Plenum rated cable need to be run to the outside of the building and the ground block installed outside?

This will be a HughesNet VSAT system for data communication in a national chain drug store environment.
 
If your job specs prohibit the PVC you're using inside ... that's what you have to do.

The ground block (technically termed an antenna discharge unit) may be either inside or outside but must be "... as near as practicable to the entrance of the conductors to the building... " [810.20(B)]

Recommend you review all of 810 re: requirements for your particular installation.
 
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Run the plenum cable out of the air handling space to the ground block. It needs to be located as close as possible to the POE but not in the air handling space if you are going to use it to transition to the PVC jacketed cable.

Non-plenum listed cable cannot be installed in a plenum or air handling space for any distance unless its enclosed in raceway. This would mean that any fittings (or ground block) in the cable located in the plenum would need to be in boxes.

-Hal
 
NoVA Comms Power said:
If your job specs prohibit the PVC you're using inside ... that's what you have to do.

The ground block (technically termed an antenna discharge unit) may be either inside or outside but must be "... as near as practicable to the entrance of the conductors to the building... " [810.20(B)]

Recommend you review all of 810 re: requirements for your particular installation.
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810 is for Radio and Television Equipment, how would that relate to a Data transmission system? Remember this system is also a transmitter?
 
NoVA Comms Power said:
VSAT is a satellite radio transceiver ... it therefore is covered under the scope of 810.1.
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VSAT is a DATA transmission system not a "amateur radio transmitting and receiving equipment system" as covered under 810.1 (Scope).

Please understand that I value your replies,but, 810 covers Radio and Television Equipment, how, does that relate to data communication equipment?
 
That's a fair challenge and while I understand your argument, I disagree and stand by my interpretation for the following rationale:

1) 810.1 covers " antenna systems for radio and television receiving equipment ... "

2) You're using RG cable ... meaning it's carrying RF energy (RG originally meant "Radio Grade")

3) 810.1 does not specify radio frequency or antenna type/style.

4) VSAT is a satellite radio system. Yes, it's passing "data" ... but that's all a DirecTV dish does too. (it's the receiver which converts the data stream into a usable video stream)

5) There's no argument that satellite TV is covered by 810 ... I'm arguing that a VSAT installation is "the same" ... and that nothing else in the NEC better describes -- or protects the premises -- in such an installation.

Lastly, I'd propose that the "data" which comes out of the VSAT receiver (which I'm assuming is inside and is via Cat-5/6 ethernet) is better termed "data")
 
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If you read Art 810, it refers you to Art 820 for coax. In my opinion the titles of Art 810 and 820 are out of date.
The rules in 810 and 820 are similar for grounding. The rules in the NEC are clear on running plenum cable or riser cable, and are consistent across all the low voltage articles
 
My opinion is the same as Tom's. The Code can't specifically address every new product iteration that comes along. Perhaps a new title for Art 810 is in order- maybe RF Transmitting and Receiving Antennas?

In your case its of no consequence whether your sat dish and cable handles data, digital or analog video or audio, its still a dish antenna and coax cable. It also doesn't matter which way the signal travels on the cable. It isn't high power RF since the BUC is located at the dish. Matter of fact the Code doesn't even address commercial radio and television transmitters.

Article 810 stipulates the grounding methods that are required for your dish. As per 810.3, article 820 then covers the cable that connects to the dish as well as the ground block and it's grounding.

All you are inquiring about anyway is the requirements for installing wiring in a plenum or air handling space. As Tom points out those requirements are universal for all low voltage articles and wiring. See 820.50, 820.53 as well as 300.22 and Article 100, definition of "plenum".

-Hal
 
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I don't have a 820.50 or 820.53, my 2005 book jumps from 820.47 to 820.93.

From 300.22 I gather if I terminate the PVC cable inside the building in a area that is not specifically used for environmental air-handling purposes, IE a habitable room or area of the building such as the storage room or warehouse area, it would be permissable for the PVC cable to enter the building. Any cable run inside the building that passes thru any area that is considered a Plenum would have to be Plenum rated.

Have I read it right?
 
wshoard said:
Plenum would have to be Plenum rated.

Have I read it right?
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Kind of. First of all, you can not install any wiring in a Plenum unless its need to control something in the plenum.
What you and a lot of folks call a plenum is an air handing space. We install plenum cable in an air handing space. See 300.22(C).

And not all suspended ceilings are air handling spaces. Some are, some are not.
 
I don't have a 820.50 or 820.53, my 2005 book jumps from 820.47 to 820.93.

You need to understand that, although the 2005 is the latest revision of the Code, the jurisdiction you are working in may not be using it. The NEC has to be adopted by jurisdictions each time it is revised. Because that is a governmental process that could take years. Here in NY we are still on the 1999 revision. You need to check with the AHJ to find out what code cycle you are currently using and use that Code. As you can see there have been many changes to Article 820 in the 2005 revision and if you follow it and its not been adopted, your work could be in violation.

-Hal
 
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From 300.22 I gather if I terminate the PVC cable inside the building in a area that is not specifically used for environmental air-handling purposes, IE a habitable room or area of the building such as the storage room or warehouse area, it would be permissable for the PVC cable to enter the building.

In answer to that question, yes. BUT (assuming your termination point is the ground block) your ground block needs to be as close as possible to where the cable enters the building, either inside or outside AND within 20 feet of the building ground.

-Hal
 
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