I am running new cable for telephones in several punch down rooms. All the punch down rooms are in the same building. The cable will be run above the ceiling in the building. The longest run of cable will be about 600ft. Should I run shielded cable or would unshielded plenum cable be fine? I have a Meridian 81c and was wondering how safe unshielded cable would be for 3904 model phones.
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Cable question for voice circuits 1
- Thread starter khail
- Start date
khail - I'd suggest standard CAT5 plenum. Shielded isn't necessary unless it's going to be run next to high-voltage lines. I wouldn't use CAT3 because you may need to use these lines for VoIP or data later.
DOcean - I don't know where khail is but in Indiana, comms cabling (voice/data/alarm/control) has to be plenum-rated if it isn't in conduit, mainly because of smoke hazard in a fire.
Steve Harmon
Greenfield, Indiana
DOcean - I don't know where khail is but in Indiana, comms cabling (voice/data/alarm/control) has to be plenum-rated if it isn't in conduit, mainly because of smoke hazard in a fire.
Steve Harmon
Greenfield, Indiana
NEC (and most state electrical codes) indicate cable must be plenum when run outside of conduit in plenum-rated (return air) ceilings. Plenum cable is not required in non-plenum ceilings and, when applied mistakenly, is a waste of client's money.
- Thread starter
- #6
I am in Texas, the cable won't be in conduit thats why it has to be plenum its part of the code here. That was part of the reason for my question. If I use shielded cable I have to put it in coduit. It would have been a lot more work to install conduit. The building I am in is an office building, no high voltage lines anywhere near the phone cable. I am starting to integrate 3904s into my system and I read that they can get damaged easily. That was the second reason for my question. I just wanted to make sure it would be safe for all the ones I have installed now. Thanks for the replies.
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- #7
I am not sure where you have heard the 3900 series phones can be damaged easily, but it could be from the very first release. Nortel did have some issues with the Release 1 sets, but others have been very solid. I have had a 3904 on my desk for about 3 years, Cat 3 to the desk and Cat 3 riser from the MDF without issue.
Scott M.
Scott M.
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