When it comes to the plenum area, “out of sight” must never become “out of mind.” Whether located under an elevated floor, such as in a data center, or above the dropdown ceiling of a conference room, plenum areas are home to cables, combustible materials, and connections that present concerns when it comes to specifying materials used to insulate and protect the pipes, cables, and connections in this oft-overlooked region of the enclosure.
Regardless of a building’s function, plenums typically provide space for the mechanical pipes, cables, and wires connecting voice and data systems, HVAC equipment, IT networks, and various communications systems throughout a building. A special concern from a life safety perspective is that plenums are home to combustible materials as well as various pipes, cables, and wires that may yield toxic fumes and smoke. The air exchange occurring in the plenum space can also help a fire propagate, in turn threatening valuable egress time. The combination of combustible materials and airflow presents considerations when it comes to the materials wrapping pipes in the plenum.