Electrical Wire & Cable Specialists

Fire alarm cables are the cables that carry power and information to and from the nodes on a fire alarm system. When one alarm node sounds off, the system communicates that information with the other sensors on the network as well as with any control center that operates them. These systems are a critical component of the safety of manmade infrastructures and are regulated as a matter of law. That makes alarm wire and cable another matter that falls under this same umbrella of importance. Because an operable fire alarm system is so important to security as well as with legal compliance, it helps to understand the nature of the cables and wires that feed and service these systems. Here are some of the terms you are liable to come across in your search. Riser rated vs. plenum rated - Riser rated cables are rated for use in the vertical spaces between the floors of a building, and plenum rated cables are rated for use in plenum space - the space above a drop ceiling. Shielded vs. uns...

Fire alarm cable is a specific type of alarm cable or instrumentation cable that possesses certain features that make it suitable for its use. Unsurprisingly, and as you could have guessed, fire alarm cable is the cable that is used to monitor and control a fire alarm system. As these systems are regulated and prescribed by law, it is imperative that they function as intended and that only components that are well designed for their use are put into place. As the security of inhabited buildings is of the utmost importance, these special cables can often be found classified accordingly in order to ensure their fitness for an application. Power Limited vs. Non Power Limited - The basis of the difference between power limited and non power limited alarm cables has to do with their compliance according to the National Electric Code. To keep things as simple as possible, power limited cables can only be used with power limited circuits whereas non power limited cables can be used with ci...