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running cat6 around airducts

ViviTheMage

ViviTheMage

Lifer
running cat6 shortly, and I am going to run them next to a heat/air duct, does it need to be plenum rated for that? I am not running it IN the duct, just next to it.
 
I would just make sure it's not touching it and you will be fine. In fact I have some running along a duct for temp sensors and it's been fine too:



Not pretty, but it's stood up for a few years now. The cable actually terminates just outside of a small hole that was drilled and the sensor sticks out inside the duct. (taped over so you can't see) Gets about 55C to 60C in there. I'd imagine the metal does not get any hotter than that.

As far as proper code goes though, I would not run actual ethernet network cables along a duct, I'd try to keep it at least a few inches away.
 
Red Squirrel said:
I would just make sure it's not touching it and you will be fine. In fact I have some running along a duct for temp sensors and it's been fine too:



Not pretty, but it's stood up for a few years now. The cable actually terminates just outside of a small hole that was drilled and the sensor sticks out inside the duct. (taped over so you can't see) Gets about 55C to 60C in there. I'd imagine the metal does not get any hotter than that.

As far as proper code goes though, I would not run actual ethernet network cables along a duct, I'd try to keep it at least a few inches away.
Click to expand...

It's not so much of whether or not it will work to transfer data, it's a question of whether it's safe and/or up to code.

You can guarantee if you ran non-plenum cable across a duct and something happened where it melted/started a fire, your insurance company is going to deny your entire claim.

Whether saving $100 using non-plenum is worth risking your $150k+ home and the aggregate value of everything in it is entirely up to you :whiste:
 
Mushkins said:
It's not so much of whether or not it will work to transfer data, it's a question of whether it's safe and/or up to code.

You can guarantee if you ran non-plenum cable across a duct and something happened where it melted/started a fire, your insurance company is going to deny your entire claim.

Whether saving $100 using non-plenum is worth risking your $150k+ home and the aggregate value of everything in it is entirely up to you :whiste:
Click to expand...

Hence why I said, it only gets like 55C in there. It's not going to melt the cable. The big reason to use plenum inside the duct is if there is a fire (caused by something external) and it gets hot enough to melt the cable inside, the fumes arn't going to be toxic if it's plenum. Outside the duct that does not really matter. Technically if you were really anal, you'd run plenum everywhere but the ducts are more important because those fumes are then going to be distributed everywhere. I don't even think multi million dollar mansions do this though. Plenum cable is incredibly expensive. You'd only want to buy by the foot and use where you need it.

As far as insurance, they'll always try to find something to deny your claim. Best bet is to use proper safety and never rely on insurance. Monitored smoke detectors are a great idea. Insurance is basically a last ditch effort, if a disaster does end up happening and all your prevention failed. Then you pray they'll honor it.
 
Red Squirrel said:
Hence why I said, it only gets like 55C in there. It's not going to melt the cable. The big reason to use plenum inside the duct is if there is a fire (caused by something external) and it gets hot enough to melt the cable inside, the fumes arn't going to be toxic if it's plenum. Outside the duct that does not really matter. Technically if you were really anal, you'd run plenum everywhere but the ducts are more important because those fumes are then going to be distributed everywhere. I don't even think multi million dollar mansions do this though. Plenum cable is incredibly expensive. You'd only want to buy by the foot and use where you need it.

As far as insurance, they'll always try to find something to deny your claim. Best bet is to use proper safety and never rely on insurance. Monitored smoke detectors are a great idea. Insurance is basically a last ditch effort, if a disaster does end up happening and all your prevention failed. Then you pray they'll honor it.
Click to expand...

This. Plenum rated is only required by code because of the lack of toxic fumes. It is not any more resitant to melting or starting fires from anything I have heard. It should never be anywhere near hot enough for anything like to be a concern (which would likely be in the 200+C range for a fire to start and at least 70-80C+ to even consider melting and most likely the jacketing is temperature stable up to at least 90C).

Unless it is going to run IN the ducting, no, you do not need plenum rated wiring for any reason.
 
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