The world of networking cables is so diverse that there are various amounts of networking cables available in the market, and with each networking cable comes the numerous amounts of jacket types. According to that, I have decided to present the different jacket types to clarify the confusion between the different jackets.
First of all, a jacket is the outer sheath of the cable that protects the wire and the cable core from the different issues revolving around moisture, mechanical, flame, and chemical. Out of the numerous jacket types, the most commonly bought jacket types are CMP and CMR, also known as Plenum and Riser.
The Most Common Ethernet Cable
Jackets
Fact: CMP is the only jacket type
that is permitted in the Plenum Spaces
CMP
denotes Communications, Plenum and is one of two top networking cable
jackets for its fire strict properties which gives only this cable a
permit to be used in the plenum spaces (construction spaces of the building
i.e. air vents raised floors) of the building. CMP itself can replace any
other jacket type and no other jacket type can
fulfill the requirements of a CMP jacket type!
Fact: CMP can
satisfy all of the other jacket types requirements; hence, it can replace any
jacket type
CMR denotes Communications, Riser and is the
second of the two top networking cable jackets which are used mostly in a
the vertical setting, connecting the different floors of the building and
sometimes in a horizontal setting from room to room if only the cable doesn’t
pass the plenum space. This jacket type can be used instead of CL3R, CL2R, CATVR, CM, CMG, CL3, CL2, CATV,
CMX, CL2X, CL3X, and CATVX; and just like for the other cables, CMP can
replace this jacket too.
CM or CMG denotes Communications and are most
commonly used as a commercial-grade communication cable which can
substitute CL3, CL2, CATV,
CL3X, CL2X, and CATVX. This cable is in-wall rated and is permitted for the
usage of only 1 to 2 family residential riser applications.
CMX denotes Communications, Residential and is
a residential grade jacket type. Such cables with this jacket type are limited
to residential purposes or for other smaller applications where a very
little amount of cables are used.
Cable TV Jacket
Types for Video Cables (Community Antenna Television and Radio)
CATVP denotes Cable TV, Plenum and is the
highest in the hierarchy. It befalls the category of Community
Antenna Television and Radio Distribution Cables and can be used instead of
any other cable in this category: CATVR, CATV, and CATVX.
CATVR denotes Cable TV, Riser and can be
substituted for CATV, CATVX. Alongside CMP, CATVP and CMR can also satisfy the requirements of this cable.
CATV denotes Cable TV and can be substituted
for CATVX. Alongside CMP, CATVP, CMR, CATVR, CM, and CMG can also satisfy the requirements of this cable.
CATVX denotes Cable TV, Residential where “X”
is a residential suffix and this cable cannot be substituted for any jacket. Alongside CMP, CMP, CATVP, CMR, CATVR, CM, CMG, CATV, and CMX can also satisfy the requirements of this cable.
In a Plenum, the
the cable must be rated CATVP; CMP, being higher rated, is a permitted substitution
as well.
In a Riser, the
requirements are a bit different.
For Riser: In one or two-family dwellings, CATV or CATVX may be used or any of the higher-rated substitutions: CM, CMG, CMR, CMP, CATVR, and CATVP. In a commercial building or multifamily
dwelling, any of those cables are permitted if they are installed in metal
raceways or located in a fireproof shaft having fire-stops at each floor. In those commercial buildings or multifamily dwellings, where there is no raceway or fire shaft, if the vertical run of the cable penetrates more than one floor, CATVR must be used or any of the substitutes: CMR, CMP, or CATVP.
Hierarchy of Video
Cables
- CATVP / Cable TV, Plenum
- CATVR / Cable TV, Riser
- CATV / Cable TV
- CATVX / Cable TV, Residential
Class Jacket Types
for Audio Interconnects and Speaker Wires
Class jacket types
fall under the category of Audio Interconnects and Speaker Wires, and these
jacket types exhume whether they can be installed in-wall or in other specific
setting.
CL2 and CL3 are the only current Classes that
are most commonly used today and they are referred to as Class 2 and Class
3. These classes are always suitable for in-wall installation but
most of the times there is a suffix after the number that makes us wonder
whether this change will be suitable for in-wall installation now? Well, it’s a
maybe depending on the suffix.
CL2 and CL3 cables are typically used for
low-voltage applications other than power or communications; such as speakers,
audio/video signals, or computer data. These cables are designed to provide
protection from both fire and electric shock. CL2 circuits are limited to
up to 100VA of power at 30V, and up to 0.5VA between 30V and 150V.
CL3 circuits can provide up to 100VA of power up to 150V. For most applications, CL3 cables can be
installed in CL2 circuits, but CL2 cables cannot be used for CL3 circuits.
For now, CL3
can be substituted for CL2, CL3X, and CL2X. Alongside CMP, CL3P, CMR, CL3R, CM, and CMG can also satisfy the requirements of this cable.
On the other hand, CL2 can be substituted for CL2X. Alongside CMP, CL3P, CL2P, CMR, CL3R, CL2R, CM, CMG, and CL3 can also satisfy the requirements of this cable.
Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 are
for Remote-Control, Signaling, and Power-Limited Circuits.
CL3P denotes Class 3, Plenum and it is suitable for in-wall
installation and so does CL2P denoting Class 2, Plenum. The
prior of the two, because of belonging from the higher class, can be
substituted for CL2P, CL3R, CL2R, CL3, CL2, CL2X,
CL3X; whereas
the latter of the to can only be a substitute
for CL2R, CL2, CL2X. Alongside CMP, CL3P can also satisfy the requirements of CL2P.
CL3R denotes Class 3, Riser and as with the
case of CL3P, this is also suitable for in-wall installation and the
same goes for CL2R denoting Class 2, Riser. Where CL3R can be
substituted for CL2R, CL3, CL2,
CL3X, and CL2X, CL2R can be
substituted for CL2 and CL2X. Alongside CMP, CL3P and CMR can also satisfy the requirements of CL3R; and CL3P, CMR, and CL3R can also satisfy the requirements of CL2R.
CL3X and CL2X denotes Class 3, Residential and
Class 2, Residential, respectively; where the suffix “X” is a residential suffix signifying a lower grade than the plain jacket of the
Class itself. Although CL2X and CL3X may be installed in raceways, but if
they are under 1⁄4 inch diameter, they may only be installed in a 1 to 2 family a residential dwelling without a raceway.
In this, CL3X can
be substituted for CL2X. Alongside CMP, CL3P, CMR, CL3R, CM, CMG, CL3, and CMX can also satisfy the requirements of this cable.
As for CL2X, it cannot be substituted for any jacket. Alongside CMP, CMP, CL3P, CL2P, CMR, CL3R, CL2R, CM, CMG, CL3,
CL2, CMX, and CL3X can also satisfy the requirements of this cable.
In a Plenum, CL2P
or CL3P are required, and CMP is a permitted substitution.
In a Riser, it’s a
bit different solution.
For Riser: If you’re in a single or two-family dwelling, CL2, CL3, CL2X, and CL3X may be used. In a commercial building or
multifamily dwelling, any of those cables are permitted if they are installed
in metal raceways or located in a fireproof shaft having fire-stops at each
floor. In those commercial buildings or multifamily dwellings, where there is
no raceway or fireproof shaft, if the vertical run of the cable penetrates more
then one floor, CL2R or CL3R must be used or any of these substitutes: CMR, CMP, CL2P, or CL3P.
Hierarchy of Class
Jacket Types
Class 3
- CL3P / Class 3, Plenum
- CL3R / Class 3, Riser
- CL3 / Class 3
- CL3X / Class 3, Residential
Class 2
- CL2P / Class 2, Plenum
- CL2R / Class 2, Riser
- CL2 / Class 2
- CL2X / Class 2, Residential
