Cables have been permitted for use in plenums since the late 1970s. This work investigates the statistical evidence for fire losses in concealed spaces (with plenums a sub-group of concealed spaces) since plenum cables were first used. The data clearly indicate that the fire losses have been very low, both in absolute terms and in comparison with losses in other structure fires. Furthermore, fire losses have been decreasing over time, whether assessed on an absolute basis, on a per capita basis or on the basis of the amount of installed plenum cable. The fire performance of plenum cables also indicates that the fire hazard associated with such cables is much lower than that associated with most other consumer products.
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