hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: Setting up a new branch office and need to run…
You are setting up a new branch office and need to run Ethernet cables through ceiling plenums. You must ensure the cables meet fire safety codes. Which type of cable should you use, and which tool would you use to verify its integrity after installation?
⚠ Common exam trap
The 220-1201 exam often tests the distinction between fire safety ratings (plenum vs. riser vs. PVC) and functional cable types (shielded vs. unshielded), so candidates mistakenly choose shielded cable for fire safety or confuse a multimeter with a proper cable tester.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use plenum-rated cable; verify with a cable tester
Plenum-rated cable is required for installation in ceiling plenums because it is made with low-smoke, fire-retardant materials (e.g., FEP or PVDF) that do not emit toxic fumes or support flame spread, meeting fire safety codes such as NFPA 70 (NEC) Article 800. After installation, a cable tester (e.g., a wiremap tester or certification tool like a Fluke DSX) verifies integrity by checking for continuity, shorts, opens, and proper pin-to-pin wiring per T568A/B standards.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Use plenum-rated cable; verify with a cable tester
Why this is correct
Plenum-rated cable is essential for installations in air-handling spaces like drop ceilings and raised floors, as its jacket is designed to be fire-resistant and produce minimal smoke and toxic fumes when burned, adhering to strict building safety codes. A dedicated cable tester is the correct tool to verify the installation, ensuring proper wire mapping, continuity, detecting shorts, opens, and split pairs, which are critical for reliable Ethernet communication.
- ✗
Use PVC cable; verify with a multimeter
Why it's wrong here
Using PVC cable in plenum spaces is a significant fire hazard because its jacket is not fire-retardant and releases dense, toxic smoke when burned, violating safety regulations. Furthermore, a standard multimeter is inadequate for verifying Ethernet cable integrity, as it can only check basic electrical properties like resistance or voltage, not the complex wire mapping, signal integrity, or performance characteristics required for network functionality.
- ✗
Use shielded cable; verify with a toner probe
Why it's wrong here
While shielded cable is effective at mitigating electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) in noisy environments, its primary purpose is not fire safety in plenum spaces. A toner probe, on the other hand, is used solely for tracing and identifying specific cables within a bundle by emitting an audible tone, offering no capability to test for proper termination, continuity, or overall network performance.
- ✗
Use fiber optic cable; verify with a loopback plug
Why it's wrong here
Fiber optic cable, while offering high bandwidth and immunity to EMI, is generally overkill and more expensive for typical desktop Ethernet drops in a standard office environment, requiring specialized transceivers and termination. A loopback plug is designed for self-testing copper network interface cards (NICs) by sending and receiving signals on the same port, making it entirely unsuitable for testing fiber optic cables or their connections.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Wi-Fi Standards and Protocols
Key term
Cable tester
A cable tester is a device used to verify that network or electrical cables are wired correctly and can carry signals without interruption.
Key term
Ethernet
Ethernet is a wired networking technology that connects devices like computers, printers, and servers to each other and to the internet using cables.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.