Businesses across the nation spend millions in servers, switching and other IT improvements that supercharge their productivity. As copper gives way to fiber OM3 to OM4; USB to FireWire, POTS to ISDN more cables are encased in ceilings, floors, cabinets, raceways and closets. Now, all of that unused cabling is the subject of increased scrutiny by fire protection professionals, property owners and local government and building authorities across the country.
Outdated or abandoned cables can contain highly flammable and toxic material. Often they have been installed with jacketed materials that further increase the risk of harm to people and property in the event of fire. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has revised the National Electrical Code to address this issue. Now, unused cables that are not identified for future use must be removed and with many facilities having several generations of cables snaking through their facility the task of distinguishing between functioning and abandoned cable can be monumentally difficult.
EIS can survey your facilities, inventory and document those cables that are in use, and remove abandoned cables with minimal disruption to ongoing business functions. The EIS team has both technical expertise and knowledgeable technicians to complete all the steps necessary for the successful and non-disruptive removal of abandoned cable, throughout the United States. Our team of professionally trained technicians ensure that removal requirements are identified and successfully completed from beginning to end, including:
Labor coordination and planning anywhere in the world
Single-point invoicing
Code - National code requirements mandate that it be removed or tagged for future use. Many state and local jurisdictions are adopting these requirements.
2002 NEC.
2005 NEC.
2002 NFPA 75: Standard for the Protection of Electronic Computer/Data Processing Equipment.
2002 NFPA 76: Recommended Practice for the Fire Protection of Telecommunications Facilities
2002 NFPA 90A: Standard for the Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilating Systems.
Safety - Abandoned cable can present a significant fuel load and smoke hazard in the event of a fire.
Liability Issues - Facility owners bear the majority of liability for cable installed in their buildings- even if installed by tenants.
Pathway Limitations - Adding new cabling channels over abandoned cable contributes to overfilled pathways, which causes