Technical Details

The patented XtenderPRO™ Plate system includes the Cross Plate and Lift Plate. The purpose of the XtenderPro™ patented plates  are to help prevent fires that start behind the drywall in both residential and commercial spaces.  The patented plates provide protection for the wiring that is installed behind the drywall. The current plates sold in the marketplace today do not fully adhere to the NEC, as they do not extend far enough to protect the wiring from being damaged from the nails or screws being inserted into the drywall.  The XtenderPro™ Plates have an additional 1 1/2” inches in width on each side of the framing member or furring strip that helps ensure the wires will not be damaged during drywall installation.   XtenderPro™ Plates adhere to the NEC “section 300.4 “ Protection from physical damage, and 300.4(2d) Cables and Raceways Parallel to Framing Members and Furring Strips” requires 1-¼” inch spacing from framing members or furring strips.  

The XtenderPro™ Plate system addresses the problem relating to the cause of fires in both homes and commercial buildings. Based on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) report by Richard Campbell on February 2022 “Home Fires Caused by Electrical Distribution and Lighting Equipment”, identifies that 8% percent of fires start from within wall assemblies or concealed spaces. The report stated that the estimated average of 32,620 home fires per year in 2015 through 2019. That 8% percent would be 2,608 fires inside the wall assembly per year. NFPA Report chart figure 5 page 3. The XtenderPro Plate™ System is an innovative solution that helps prevent electrical fires. The unique XtenderPro™ plate design extends the protection an extra 1 1/2” inches from the plates that are on the market today. Whereby providing more protection for electrical wiring and adhering to the National Electric Code (NEC).

NFPA Report chart figure 5 page 3

The NEC adopted section 300.4 (2d) Raceways Parallel to Framing Members to require the 1-1/4” inch spacing, and it has been active in the NEC since 1990. However, the plates still used today do not meet the code requirement for protecting the wire in the 1-1/4” inch area as the wire enters and leaves the framing member or furring strip.

The XtenderPro™ Plates were designed to meet the NEC. Whereby, helping prevent wall assembly or concealed space fires in your normal lighting circuits throughout your home of commercial buildings. As Quoted from page 3 in NFPA report “Faulty wiring in concealed spaces, such as attics or behind walls, is particularly dangerous because it can start fires that burn for a prolonged period before detection.”

It is also important to note that the Xtender Pro™ Plates also help protect the wire for large appliances. Today large appliances do not have Arc Fault Circuit-Interrupter  (AFCI) Protection. Whereby leaving them more susceptible to fires. Large appliances such as ranges, clothes dryers, air handlers, condensers, water heaters, and wall ovens are all 240-volt circuits, and in most cases use at least 30 amps of current to run.  If any of the large appliances branch circuit wires were damaged in the wall assembly they could be at a higher risk of starting a fire because they do not have AFCI protection. Therefore, protecting the wire with XtenderPro™ Plates is essential.