I worked on a 48VDC 1AMP cable installation that required a cable to be routed through a plenum basement, through an outside covered in ground cable tray and terminate in another building.
The job engineer required me to use a non-plenum rated OUTDOOR cable, as her logic was the plenum cable would not last as long OUTDOORS, and might be negatively affected by ground water and rodents. I informed the engineer that if the cable was passing through a PLENUM area, then the cable needed to be plenum, no ifs, ands or buts. There was plenty of plenum cable available on-site, but I didn't have a copy of the NEC handy and I was over-ruled. We ran the non-plenum cable as directed, but I feel uneasy about this. What can I do to help to prevent a reoccurence of something like this in the future?
I was thinking maybe a reference to whatever penalties might apply to individuals who install (or direct others to install) non-plenum cable in a plenum area.
Maybe specific reports of deaths attributed to fires and toxic smoke might help.
If I am going overboard in my concern, please let me know.
Many Thanks,
Julio
The job engineer required me to use a non-plenum rated OUTDOOR cable, as her logic was the plenum cable would not last as long OUTDOORS, and might be negatively affected by ground water and rodents. I informed the engineer that if the cable was passing through a PLENUM area, then the cable needed to be plenum, no ifs, ands or buts. There was plenty of plenum cable available on-site, but I didn't have a copy of the NEC handy and I was over-ruled. We ran the non-plenum cable as directed, but I feel uneasy about this. What can I do to help to prevent a reoccurence of something like this in the future?
I was thinking maybe a reference to whatever penalties might apply to individuals who install (or direct others to install) non-plenum cable in a plenum area.
Maybe specific reports of deaths attributed to fires and toxic smoke might help.
If I am going overboard in my concern, please let me know.
Many Thanks,
Julio
