In the last several years, the National Fire Protection Agency ("NFPA") and the National Electric Code® ("NEC") have focused their attention on the potential safety threat posed by abandoned cabling throughout our commercial buildings.

These abandoned cables are a source for fueling fire, smoke and lethal toxic fumes that can incapacitate and kill. Today, the National Electrical Code® (NEC 2002) requires that all abandoned copper and fiber cable be removed. Abandoned wires are defined by the NEC to be the "installed cable that is not terminated at both ends at a connector or other equipment and not identified for future use with a tag."

Literally miles of cabling left in the ceilings and in the walls from previous network and power installations by previous tenants have accumulated in most of our buildings over the last several decades. Legacy wires may now render your property “out of code,” jeopardize your fire insurance and represent a significant legal liability. The new rules make it a violation to have abandoned wires in your building's risers or plenums and, in addition, mandate the use of specific wiring standards for new installs.