Plenum Cable Glossary Terms for Dummies
Of course there are no dummies in the Wire & Cable world, but just in case there are some questions, here the most common or frequently requested terms for Plenum cables. These are not complete nor exhaustive, but the most common phases or codes that our customers often inquire about.
Plenum Cable Terms by codes
The first 2 digits indicate the AWG Size.
The digits after the forward "/" indicates the number of conductors.
This can also be written with the numbers after the cable type.
| Term | First 2 digits | Digits after "/" | Cable Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/2 Plenum cable | 10 AWG | 2 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 10/4 Plenum cable | 10 AWG | 4 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 12/2 Plenum cable | 12 AWG | 2 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 12/4 Plenum cable | 12 AWG | 4 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 14/2 Plenum cable | 14 AWG | 2 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 14/4 Plenum cable | 14 AWG | 4 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 14/6 Plenum cable | 14 AWG | 6 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 16/2 Plenum Cable | 16 AWG | 2 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 16/3 Plenum Cable | 16 AWG | 3 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 16/4 Plenum Cable | 16 AWG | 4 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 16/6 Plenum Cable | 16 AWG | 6 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 18/2 Plenum Cable | 18 AWG | 2 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 18/4 Plenum Cable | 18 AWG | 4 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 18/6 Plenum Cable | 18 AWG | 6 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 18/8 Plenum Cable | 18 AWG | 8 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 18/10 Plenum Cable | 18 AWG | 10 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 18/12 Plenum Cable | 18 AWG | 12 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 20/2 Plenum Cable | 20 AWG | 2 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 20/3 Plenum Cable | 20 AWG | 3 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 20/4 Plenum Cable | 20 AWG | 4 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 20/6 Plenum Cable | 20 AWG | 6 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 22/2 Plenum Cable | 22 AWG | 2 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 22/3 Plenum Cable | 22 AWG | 3 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 22/4 Plenum Cable | 22 AWG | 4 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 22/5 Plenum Cable | 22 AWG | 5 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 22/6 Plenum Cable | 22 AWG | 6 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 22/7 Plenum Cable | 22 AWG | 7 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 22/8 Plenum Cable | 22 AWG | 8 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 22/10 Plenum Cable | 22 AWG | 10 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 22/12 Plenum Cable | 22 AWG | 12 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
| 22/15 Plenum Cable | 22 AWG | 15 Conductors | Plenum Cable |
Common Plenum Cable Terms:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| CMP | Communication Plenum Cable from the NEC Article 800 |
| CL2P | Class 2 Plenum Cable from The NEC Article 725 |
| CL3P | Class 3 Plenum Cable from The NEC Article 725 |
| FPLP | Fire Protective Cable from the NEC Article 760 |
| MPP | Multi purpose Plenum Cable |
| NPLFP | Non-Power Limited Fire Protective Plenum Cable |
| CATVP | Cable Television Plenum Cable |
| UL | Underwriters' Laboratories |
| ETL | Electrical Testing Labs by Interkek |
| RoHs | Restriction of certain Hazardous Substances |
| LS-PVC | Low Smoke PVC |
| Shield | The metallic covering over conductors |
| Aluminum/Mylar | A form of shield over cable conductors |
| Unshielded | When a cables does not have a shield |
| Drain Wire | A wire in a shielded cable used to terminate the shield |
| Plenum Jacket | A cable that has a Plenum rated Jacket |
| NEC 725 | National Electrical Code 725 |
| Stranded | A wire that has multiple strands |
| Solid | A wire with only one strand |
| Tinned Copper | A copper wire with a tin covering |
| Bare Copper | A copper wire with no tinning |
| Rip Cord | A cord that is under the jacket to make it easier to strip the jacket |
| Numbered Conductors | It is a printing in the conductor insulation to help identify wires |
| Twisted Conductors | Conductors that are twisted together |
Examples of Plenum Cable:
Plenum Cable 22 AWG Price
Plenum Cable 20 AWG Price
Plenum Cable 18 AWG Price
Plenum Cable 16 AWG Price
Plenum Cable 14 AWG Price
Plenum Cable 12 AWG Price
Plenum Cable 10 AWG Price
FEP/FEP Plenum Cable Price
To view our extensive pricing of plenum cable in our low voltage cable category. Contact ramcorpwire.com for further assistance.
Remember that if you cannot find it, we can or can have it made.
Thank you for reading,
JR