Abandoned Cables – A Forgotten Fire Hazard
Every year client businesses all over the nation spend thousands of dollars in technology to expand and upgrade their network cabling infrastructure to improve productivity. Every new installation means an increased number of low voltage cables that are cut and left in ceilings, floors, and walls. Miles of abandoned network cables have accumulated in hospitals, schools, and office buildings. From a tenant or building owner’s point of view, removing abandoned cable has been seen in the past as more trouble than it was worth. New cables were added wherever there was space, as it was easier to ignore the old wires rather than bringing in a professional to remove it. Cable abatement can be a difficult and confusing task, since over many years of occupancy a variety of voice, data, fiber optic, and electrical cables can build up. Removal by an inexperienced worker risks the chance of disconnecting a critical network’s operation and poses safety concerns, particularly when the weight of the old cables is not properly supported. However, this abandoned cable is now coming under more and more scrutiny by local governments and commercial property owners. Most outdated cable contains toxic and highly flammable materials that, if caught on fire, can be fatal and cause extensive property damage. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) revised the National Electrical Code in order to address this issue. The rules make it a violation to have abandoned wires that are not terminated and/or identified for future use. Because of this, abandoned cabling can render your property [...]