PVC vs Plenum Cable for 10GBaseT and Fire Safety Requirements
Question
A technician needs to order cable that meets 10GBaseT and fire safety requirements for an installation between a drop ceiling and a standard ceiling.
Which of the following should the technician order to ensure compliance with the requirements?
A.
PVC Cat 5 B.
Plenum Cat 5e C.
Plenum Cat 6a D.
PVC Cat 7
C.
Explanations
A technician needs to order cable that meets 10GBaseT and fire safety requirements for an installation between a drop ceiling and a standard ceiling.
Which of the following should the technician order to ensure compliance with the requirements?
A.
PVC Cat 5
B.
Plenum Cat 5e
C.
Plenum Cat 6a
D.
PVC Cat 7
C.
In this scenario, the technician needs to order a cable that meets two requirements: 10GBaseT and fire safety regulations.
10GBaseT is a type of Ethernet networking standard that supports data transfer rates of up to 10 Gigabits per second (Gbps) over twisted-pair copper cabling. This standard requires a cable with specific characteristics, including the ability to support high frequencies and maintain signal integrity at longer distances.
Fire safety regulations for cabling installations typically require the use of cables that are rated for fire resistance and low smoke production. In the event of a fire, these cables are designed to limit the spread of flames and smoke, which can help prevent injury and property damage.
Given these requirements, the best option for the technician to order would be plenum-rated Cat 6a cable.
Plenum-rated cables are designed to meet fire safety regulations and are suitable for use in air-handling spaces such as those found above drop ceilings. These cables are made with materials that limit the spread of smoke and flames, which makes them less likely to contribute to a fire or hinder evacuation efforts.
Cat 6a cable, on the other hand, is designed to support 10GBaseT networking and is capable of maintaining high data transfer rates over longer distances than some other cable types. This makes it an ideal choice for high-speed data networking applications, such as those that require the transfer of large files or real-time video streaming.
Overall, the combination of plenum-rated insulation and 10GBaseT support make plenum-rated Cat 6a the best option for the technician to order in order to ensure compliance with both fire safety regulations and networking requirements.
