Q: Thanks for your discussion of plenum cabling requirements in the July 1995 issue (page 55). However, I have been unable to locate plenum-rated power cords. For example, Digital Equipment Corp. (Maynard, MA), IBM (White Plains, NY) and Sun Microsystems (Milpitas, CA) do not offer plenum-rated power cords as an option.
I typically work in data-processing facilities where minicomputers and microcomputers are installed. Their power comes from under the raised floor, where the air flow is also located. Interface and data cables are readily available in plenum-rated formats, but I have not been able to work around the requirement that all cables, including power cords, be plenum-rated.
Ralph Bouvy
University of Denver
Denver, CO
A: The reason that you can`t find plenum-rated power cables is because having the electrical outlet in the plenum is a violation of NEC-1993, Section 300-22.