Riser Cable: Advantages and Disadvantages

This page explores the pros and cons of riser cables. It details the benefits and drawbacks of using them in various applications.

What is a Riser Cable?

Introduction:

• Riser (CMR) rated cable complies with UL-1666 standards.
• Primarily used in commercial buildings.
• A “riser” refers to the vertical space used by telecommunications infrastructure to connect different floors within a building.
• OFNR (Optical Fiber Non-Conductive Riser) cables lack conductive metal structures and are approved for riser applications. Most fiber optic cables are inherently non-conductive, being made of materials like glass or plastic.

• Riser cables are designed for vertical tray applications, such as cable runs between floors through cable risers or in elevator shafts.
• A key characteristic is their self-extinguishing property.

Benefits or Advantages of Riser Cables

Here’s a breakdown of the advantages of using riser cables:

• Fire Resistance: Prevents fire from spreading between floors due to its fire-resistant properties.
• Vertical Connectivity: Suitable for connecting floors via vertical cable runs.
• Self-Extinguishing: These cables are designed to self-extinguish in the event of a fire.
• Versatile Availability: Twisted-pair, coaxial, HDMI, and DVI versions of cables are manufactured in riser variants.

Drawbacks or Disadvantages of Riser Cables

Here are the potential disadvantages to consider:

• Less Strict Fire Requirements: Riser cables don’t have as stringent fire safety requirements as plenum cables. As a result, plenum cables can always be used as a replacement for riser cables, offering a higher level of fire protection.