This guide clearly explains what Cat6 Riser cable is, outlines its key performance and safety benefits, and shows exactly where it's best installed. Choosing the right riser cable will be straightforward, ensuring your network meets both safety and performance standards.
Understanding Cat6 Riser Cable
Cat6 Riser cable is a type of Category 6 cable specifically designed for vertical installations between floors in buildings. The term "Riser" comes from the cable's primary use in riser spaces, which are vertical shafts or conduits between floors. These spaces typically demand cables that meet stringent fire safety standards, ensuring minimal fire propagation and smoke production during emergencies.
Cat6 Riser cable is classified under the CMR rating (Communications Multipurpose cable, Riser), which means it's approved for use in vertical installations and meets specific fire safety requirements set by national and local building codes.
Performance of Cat6 Riser Cable
Cat6 Riser cable offers enhanced performance compared to standard Cat5e cables:
- Speed: Supports speeds up to 1Gbps for distances up to 328 feet (100 meters) and, under ideal conditions, can deliver up to 10Gbps at distances up to 55 meters (180 feet).
- Bandwidth: Provides up to 550MHz bandwidth, reducing interference and maintaining signal integrity.
- Reduced Crosstalk: Designed with tighter twists and insulation to significantly reduce crosstalk between cable pairs, delivering superior performance.
This improved performance makes Cat6 Riser cable an excellent choice for networks that demand high speed data transfers, including video conferencing, streaming, and data intensive business applications.
Types of Cat6 Riser Cable
Cat6 Riser cable typically comes in two types:
- Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP):
- Most common type
- Suitable for most standard indoor installations
- Economical and easy to install
- Shielded Twisted Pair (STP or FTP):
- Includes shielding to protect against external electromagnetic interference (EMI)
- Ideal for installations near high EMI sources, such as industrial equipment or electrical conduits
Choosing between UTP and shielded cables depends on your specific environment and interference levels.
Where to Install Cat6 Riser Cable
Cat6 Riser cable is specifically designed for:
- Vertical runs between floors in residential and commercial buildings.
- Installations within riser ducts, elevator shafts, and stairwells.
- General purpose installations in walls or conduits where fire safety compliance (CMR rating) is required by local building codes.
However, Cat6 Riser cable should not be used in plenum rated spaces, like HVAC air return spaces, which require plenum rated (CMP) cable due to stricter fire safety standards.
Certified Performance from DG Network Solutions
Our Cat6 cables are ETL certified and made from 100% bare copper, ensuring you get premium, interference free performance at home or in a professional environment.
Cat6 Riser Cable
Perfect for home installs and long wall runs.
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The Importance of Choosing Certified Cable
When selecting Cat6 cables, it's essential to choose certified cables such as those provided by DG Network Solutions. Certified cables like DG Network Solutions' ETL rated cables ensure high quality, safety compliance, and optimal performance. Avoid using CCA (Copper Clad Aluminum) cables, as they are lower quality, less durable, and do not meet most building code requirements. Certified pure copper cables, like those from DG Network Solutions, deliver superior performance, reliability, and safety for your network infrastructure.
Conclusion
Cat6 Riser cable is the optimal solution for vertical network installations that demand high performance, safety, and reliability. Its CMR rating ensures compliance with building codes, and its high data transfer capabilities support advanced networking needs.
Need Help with Your Network Cabling?
At DG Network Solutions, we provide reliable, high performance cables without the markup. Whether you need advice, technical support, or product recommendations, our team is here to assist you.
