News
ABANDONED CABLE REVISTED WITH SOLUTIONS
Abandoned cable is defined in the National Electrical Code (NEC) as "accessible installed communications cable that is not terminated at both ends at a connector or other equipment and not identified "For Future Use" with a tag."
The NEC establishes the performance issue, but does not assign financial responsibility for removal and disposal of the abandoned cable. The inspector for the AHJ generally will specify what cables have to be removed in order for the job to pass electrical inspection. Failure to get a certificate for occupancy is a nightmare.
The NEC includes rules intended to ensure safety during installation, use and/or disposal of materials, components, fixtures, and systems. The NEC is developed and revised every three years by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the secretariat to the Code. In 2002, a new provision to this code required the removal of abandoned cable. This was the first major change to cabling requirements in the NEC in more than 20 years. Cabling is the only combustible material allowed in the ceiling plenum, thus the changes were made to reduce the fuel, smoke, and toxic gas potential caused by an excess of unused cabling. The 2005 version of the NEC also reflected this provision. No change for this requirement is proposed in the NEC 2008. NEC 2002 Article 770.3(B) for optical fiber and Article 800.52(B) for communications cabling states that all accessible abandoned cable, unless marked for future use, must be removed. Abandoned cable can easily be found in hospitals, schools and office buildings that were built many years ago, and then expanded in recent years. Particularly vulnerable and in need of urgent corrective action is the healthcare industry and the education sector, where abandoned cables abound and safety concerns are a high priority. <click here to read full article>
Cabling Business Magazine - August 2007
