The Ghost in the Riser: When Legacy Cables Become a Fire Hazard

When was the last time you looked inside your telecom riser? For most building owners, the answer is never. Behind those closed doors lies decades of abandoned cabling—old phone lines, retired security wiring, legacy coax, and mystery cables that no one can identify. While they seem harmless, these abandoned cables are a serious fire hazard, can trap heat around active systems, and can even trigger insurance and fire code violations. In this episode, Alex Morgan sits down with Michael Harrington and James Rogers to unpack why risers become time capsules of outdated infrastructure, the real-world operational and safety risks they create, and the practical steps owners can take to audit, remediate, and prevent the problem from recurring. From fire code fundamentals to the hidden costs of doing nothing, this conversation gives facilities and property leaders a clear playbook for turning a forgotten maintenance issue into a manageable, budget-friendly project that improves safety, reduces risk, and makes future technology upgrades easier.