What is Ethernet Cable Fire Ratings
Ethernet cable fire ratings are determined based on the combustion performance, smoke toxicity, and other indicators of cable lines in different fire scenarios, which can better ensure fire safety during use. The National Electrical Code (NEC) of the United States specifies different fire ratings, including CMP, CMR, CM, CMX, and CMG, which allows users to choose suitable cable products based on different environmental requirements.
CMX vs CMG vs CM vs CPR vs CMP
CMP (Plenum Cable)
CMP rating is the highest flame retardant cable in Ethernet cables, with extremely high flame retardancy. CMP cables can suppress the spread of fire in a fire environment without producing a large amount of toxic smoke. Due to its extremely high fire resistance, CMP cables are highly suitable for situations with strict fire safety requirements. However, due to their high cost, CMP cables are still more commonly used in ventilation spaces such as ventilation ducts and ceiling spaces within buildings.
CMR (Riser Cable)
The fire rating of CMR is second only to that of CMP cables, which will produce certain smoke and toxic gases when burned, but it is significantly improved compared with ordinary cables. CMR cables perform well in vertical combustion testing, with flame retardant properties that prevent flames from spreading across floors. They are widely used for vertical cable routing in buildings, such as shafts and elevator shafts.
CM (General Purpose Cable)
The fire rating of CM is lower than CMP and CMR, meeting the basic fire protection requirements of UL 1685 standard. It will not self ignite, and the flame spreads slowly along the cable, meeting general flame retardant requirements. CM cables have lower costs and are mainly used for indoor wiring in ordinary buildings and in situations where fire safety requirements are not high.
CMG (General Purpose Cable)
CMG cable is a universal cable, similar to CM, without smoke concentration specifications. It is generally only used for horizontal wiring on the same floor and not for vertical wiring on floors.
CMX (Residential Cable)
CMX cables have the lowest fire rating among all Ethernet cables, and they produce the most smoke and heat during combustion. CMX cables have low cost and are generally suitable for home and small office wiring or other small-scale wiring scenarios.
Conclusão
From the above introduction, we can know that CMP is the highest fire rating applicable to situations with the strictest fire protection requirements, while CMX, as the lowest fire rating, is suitable for home and small office environments. When selecting Ethernet cables, it is necessary to choose the most suitable fire rating based on the actual fire protection requirements of the application environment.
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