Plenum Cables
Plenum cables are laid in the plenum spaces of buildings with computer installations which is often used to house connecting communication cables. The plenum is the space that is used for air circulation in heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems (HVAC) typically between the structural ceiling and a drop-down ceiling or under a raised floor.
Since plenum cables are routed through air circulation spaces which often contain very few fire barriers, they need to be coated with material that won’t contribute to the spreading of flames.
Plenum cables are made of Teflon. Teflon (or PTFE – polytetrafluoroethylene) is a fire-retardant coating so that in the case of a fire, it does not give off toxic gasses and smoke as it burns. Teflon is a high-performance alternative to standard polyethylene insulation.
A Teflon cable will not only have superior insulation characteristics, but the higher melting point of PTFE make it ideal for high voltage uses.
