Plenum Cable meets fire safety standards.

Press Release Summary:



Limited Combustible-rated (CMP-50) Unshielded Twisted Pair Cable is jacketed and insulated with FED fluoropolymer and has been tested by Underwriters' Laboratories to meet requirements for lower smoke emissions and less flame spread.



Original Press Release:


Berk-Tek First to Offer Complete Limited Combustible Product Offering


Anticipating further tightening of air return plenum space requirements after the recent NFPA conference, the company expands its CMP-50 product line; from Enhanced CAT 6 to CAT 3 four-pair UTP cables.

New Holland, PA - June 20, 2002-Berk-Tek, a Nexans company, is the first manufacturer to offer a complete product offering for Limited Combustible-rated (CMP-50) Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cables. The company added the more fire retardant version of plenum cable to its LANmark-2000 (Enhanced CAT 6) and its LANmark-1000 (CAT 6) high performance four-pair UTP cables.

Continuing concern about the accumulation of combustible materials sparked activity at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) National Conference, held this May. Based on conversations within the NFPA-90A Group-the group that controls fire safety and installation practices for heating and ventilating equipment-Dan Kennefick, Berk-Tek copper products business manager, anticipates changes to fire safety standards.

"We expect changes that will call for further tightening of fire safety standards in the plenum space," Kennefick said.

To combat the growing concern of the increase in fire loads in air return plenums, Berk-Tek launched its CMP-50 rated products less than a year ago for its LANmark-350 (Enhanced CAT 5e), Hyper Plus 5e (CAT 5) and Category 3 cables.

The products are jacketed and insulated with FEP fluoropolymer and have been tested by Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) to meet the CMP-50 requirements for lower smoke emissions and less flame spread. All Limited Combustible cables meet the same electrical specifications as the CMP and CMR rated versions.

The CMP-50 classification does not eliminate CMP and OFNP plenum cables. The limited combustible rating is additive, as an established fire safe option in air return plenum installations.

Limited Combustible products are available for immediate shipment. For more information about CMP-50, contact Berk-Tek at 1-800-237-5835 or by Fax at 717-354-7944 or visit www.berktek.com.

For more information contact:

Lauren DuPont

Communications Specialist

Tel: (717) 351-9398

Email: lauren.dupont@berktek.com

About Berk-Tek

For more than 40 years, Berk-Tek has been a leading manufacturer of more than 100 different network copper and fiber-optic cable products. The company has led in the development of high-performance and enhanced UTP cables designed to transport high-speed data and voice transmissions. Berk-Tek has three major manufacturing facilities in New Holland, PA, Fuquay-Varina and Elm City, NC. For more information contact the company at 1-800-BERKTEK or 717-354-6200 or fax at 717-354-7944 or visit www.berktek.com.

About Nexans

Nexans is the worldwide leader in the cable industry. The Group brings an extensive range of advanced copper and optical fiber cable solutions to the infrastructure, industry and building markets. Nexans cables and systems can be found in every area of people's lives, from telecommunications and energy networks, to aeronautics, aerospace, automobiles, building, petrochemical, medical applications, etc. Operating in 28 countries, Nexans employs 18,000 people and reported 2001 sales 4.8 billion euros. Nexans is listed on the Paris stock exchange. For more information check out www.nexans.com.

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