Velocsity Plus, an enhanced Category 5 plenum product from Cable Systems International (csi) Inc., provides an alternative when the cost and availability of fluorinated ethylene propylene (fep) are issues. The non-fep design incorporates a high-density, polyethylene (hdpe) foam/skin insulated core, which csi says provides excellent electrical properties. Fire performance equal to that of fep plenum Category 5 cable is provided by the use of a foamed polyvinylidene fluoride jacketing material.
The cable was analyzed nine times for plenum burn compliance at Underwriters Laboratories (UL--Northbrook, IL), and results showed that the Velocsity design exhibited exceptional plenum fire safety in UL-910 Steiner Tunnel Plenum tests. Average flame spread results were 3.8 feet, compared to a limit of 5 feet. Average peak optical density was 0.23, well under the UL`s 0.5 limit. Average optical density was 0.07, which was also under the 0.15 limit.
According to the manufacturer, Velocsity Plus has a guaranteed minimum attenuation-to-crosstalk ratio (acr) of 18 decibels at 100 megahertz. The plenum cable also has a typical acr of 25.8 dB at 100 MHz and a typical structural return loss of 25 dB at 100 MHz.
Velocsity Plus`s insulation has an improved dielectric constant when compared to fep, resulting in 78% velocity of propagation. The industry average performance is 74%. The delay skew of the new cable is 4.6 nanoseconds.
Because it is manufactured without the addition of heavy metals, the new cable is environmentally friendly. The virtually friction-free jacket allows for faster and easier installations, even with simultaneous pull-throughs.
CABLE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL inc.
PHOENIX, AZ