SECTION 283105 - CONDUCTORS, CABLES, AND PATHWAYS FOR FIRE ALARM
PART 1 - GENERAL
1.1
RELATED DOCUMENTS
A.
1.2
Drawings and general provisions of the Contract, including General and Supplementary
Conditions and Division 01 Specification Sections, apply to this Section.
SUMMARY
A.
Section Includes:
1.
2.
1.3
Fire alarm wire and cable.
Fire alarm pathways.
ACTION SUBMITTALS
A.
1.4
Product Data: For each type of product.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
A.
Electrical Components, Devices, and Accessories: Listed and labeled as defined in NFPA 70,
by a qualified testing agency, and marked for intended location and application.
PART 2 - PRODUCTS
2.1
MANUFACTURERS
A.
2.2
Subject to compliance with requirements, provide products by one of the manufacturers
specified under applicable Div 26 Sections “Low Voltage Conductors and Cables” and
“Raceway and Boxes for Electrical Systems”.
FIRE ALARM WIRE AND CABLE
A.
General Wire and Cable Requirements: NRTL listed and labeled as complying with NFPA 70,
Article 760.
1.
2.
Solid-copper conductors, twisted pair, No. 16 AWG; with 600-V rated, 75 deg C, THHN,
THWN or TFN color-coded insulation.
16 AWG wire size minimum, with voltage drop no greater than 3.0 percent.
B.
Signaling Line Circuits: Twisted, shielded pair, size as recommended by system manufacturer.
C.
Fire-resistive Cable: UL Fire-resistive Cable (Cat. FHJR) for use in UL Electrical Circuit Integrity
Systems (Cat. FHIT).
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Conductors, Cables, & Pathways For Fire Alarm
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1.
Acceptable products, use one (1) of the following:
a.
b.
c.
2.3
Duralife FPL fire resistive alarm cable, manufactured by Radix Wire Co.
Pyrotenax 1850 mineral insulated (MI) cable, manufactured by Pentair Thermal
Management Ltd.
Vitalink FPLR fire resistive alarm cable, manufactured by Comtran Cable LLC.
FIBER OPTIC CABLE:
A.
Single-mode, 12-strand minimum cable; with performance characteristics to satisfy fire alarm
system manufacturer requirements for digital network and voice applications.
1.
2.4
Multi-mode cable permitted where required by fire alarm system manufacturer.
TERMINAL CABINETS
A.
Enclosure: 16 gauge cold rolled steel factory finished with a durable red, heat-resistant bakedon enamel finish; removable hinged door with keyed locking latch; marked “FIRE ALARM
TERMINAL CABINET” in 2” white indelible screened lettering; include embedded 1/2”, 3/4”, 1”,
1 1/2” and 2” knockout clusters.
B.
Terminals: Dual 16 point high barrier terminal strips rated for 12 gauge wire and 20 amp max
250V (Class B/UL) 300V (CSA); terminal strips mounted on 18 guage cold rolled steel
galvanized finish backboard and secured to the back box.
C.
Identification: Field identification labels on the inside cover corresponding to the terminal strip’s
labeling inside the back box.
2.5
RACEWAY AND BOXES
A.
Comply with Div 26 “Raceway and Boxes for Electrical Systems”.
1.
Finish: Factory applied red finish for cover plates and connectors.
PART 3 - EXECUTION
3.1
GENERAL
A.
Comply with NFPA 70 and NFPA 72.
B.
Unless more restrictive requirements are noted in the Section, comply with applicable Div 26
Sections for the installation of low voltage electrical systems.
3.2
PATHWAY INSTALLATION
A.
The pathway system for fire alarm shall be metal raceway (EMT and RMC). Comply with Div 26
“Raceway and Boxes for Electrical Systems” for applications of EMT and RMC with respect to
environmental conditions and impact resistance.
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283105 - 2
1.
B.
Flexible metallic conduit (FMC) is permitted for whips to back-boxes installed in acoustic
grid ceilings.
Install pathways in accordance with the following NFPA 72 criteria:
C.
NFPA 72 Fire Alarm Pathway Criteria
Function
Addressable signaling loops.
Audible & visual public mode (used for evacuation)
notification circuits.
Audible & visual private mode (used for personnel signaling) notification circuits.
Supervision of conventional devices.
Fail safe operation; magnet door holders and similar.
Partial evacuation or relocation voice systems.
Communications between network nodes.
Stairwell pressurization initiation and supervision.
Two-way radio communications enhancement systems.
Circuit Type
Pathway
Class
SLC
A
Pathway
Survivability
Level
1
NAC
A
1
NAC
B
1
IDC
Fail safe
SLC / NAC /
DVC Risers
Network
SLC
B
D
1
1
A
3
X
A
3
3
-
-
3
D.
Unless greater distances are indicated on the Drawings or Specifications, install Class A and X
pathways in compliance with NFPA 72 recommendations for minimum horizontal and vertical
separation between supply and return pathways.
E.
Install Survivability-Level 3 pathways in compliance with NFPA 72 requirements for 2-hr fire
resistance rated protection.
1.
Use UL listed “Fire Resistive Cable” installed in accordance with the corresponding UL
listed “Circuit Integrity System” for pathways designated as “Level 3” not located within a
2-hr fire resistance rated enclosure.
a.
b.
3.3
Install MI cable in accordance with manufacturer installation requirements and
comply with Div 26 “Low Voltage Conductors and Cables”.
Install fire resistive cable within metal raceway in accordance with the
manufacturer installation requirements.
FIRE ALARM WIRE AND CABLE INSTALLATION
A.
Install fire alarm wiring in metal raceway.
1.
B.
Fire alarm circuits and equipment control wiring associated with the fire alarm system
shall be installed in a dedicated raceway system. This system shall not be used for any
other wire or cable.
Wiring within Enclosures: Separate power-limited and non-power-limited conductors as
recommended by manufacturer. Install conductors parallel with or at right angles to sides and
back of the enclosure. Bundle, lace, and train conductors to terminal points with no excess.
Connect conductors that are terminated, spliced, or interrupted in any enclosure associated with
the fire alarm system to terminal blocks. Mark each terminal according to the system's wiring
diagrams. Make all connections with approved crimp-on terminal spade lugs, pressure-type
terminal blocks, or plug connectors.
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C.
T-tapping: not permitted for any Pathway Class.
D.
Cable Taps: Use numbered terminal strips in junction, pull, and outlet boxes, cabinets, or
equipment enclosures where circuit connections are made.
E.
Color-Coding: Color-code fire alarm conductors differently from the normal building power
wiring. Use one color-code for alarm circuit wiring and another for supervisory circuits. Colorcode audible alarm-indicating circuits differently from alarm-initiating circuits. Use different
colors for visible alarm-indicating devices. Paint fire alarm system junction boxes and covers
red.
3.4
FIELD QUALITY CONTROL
A.
Testing Agency: Engage a qualified testing agency to perform tests and inspections.
B.
Manufacturer's Field Service: Engage a factory-authorized service representative to test and
inspect components, assemblies, and equipment installations, including connections.
C.
End-to-end cabling will be considered defective if it does not pass tests and inspections.
D.
Prepare test and inspection reports.
END OF SECTION
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