Xref: utzoo comp.protocols.tcp-ip:3589 comp.sys.dec:671
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!ames!ucsd!ucsdhub!hp-sdd!ncr-sd!ncrlnk!ncrpcd!wright!jsloan
From: jsloan@wright.EDU (John Sloan)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip,comp.sys.dec
Subject: Re: Plenum-Rated Ethernet Transceivers
Message-ID: <871@wright.EDU>
Date: 19 May 88 11:12:17 GMT
References: <410190444@nwnexus.WA.COM>
Organization: Wright State University, Dayton OH, 45435
Lines: 27

in article <410190444@nwnexus.WA.COM>, edm@nwnexus.WA.COM (Ed Morin) says:
> It turns out that the transceivers can be put into "air handling *spaces*"
> (like ceilings), but *not* in actual ducting (i.e. main air supplies, etc.).

I'm not sure there's much of a distinction in modern buildings. Many
(including ours) use ductwork to deliver air to offices, then use
the plenum (the air space above the ceiling) as an air return. Since
the fire code is concerned about smoke and noxious fumes from burning
materials (particularly plastic), which are the major causes of deaths
in fires, spreading to other parts of the building (also making locating
the fire very difficult), it would seem to me to be six of one, half
dozen of the other.

It sounds more to me like Cabletron was trying, not very successfully,
to come up with a plausible explanation. Second worry of the day: I
recently realized that some of the telephone closets are open to the
plenum in the top... i.e. no ceiling. So, like, is that a plenum space
or what?

Third worry of the day: trying to explain to our new department chair
why this is all so complicated ("why can't you just run a cable?"
"because I don't want my a** sued off.").

-- 
John Sloan, The SPOTS Group    Wright State University Research Building
CSNET: jsloan@SPOTS.Wright.Edu  3171 Research Blvd., Kettering, OH 45420
UUCP:  ...!wright!jsloan                +1-513-259-1384  +1-513-873-2491
Logical Disclaimer: belong(opinions,jsloan). belong(opinions,_):-!,fail.