Why is the 16/2 recommendation a security and control cable rather than a fire alarm cable?

The catalogue's fire alarm line only carries 16 AWG in plenum (FPLP), not riser. The 16 AWG control cable, 1602UCMRRG, is listed in the catalogue as CMR/CL2R/CL3R/FPLR, so it carries the riser fire alarm rating the notification circuits need. Check the jacket print on the reel for the FPLR listing before installing it on a life-safety circuit.

The 16/2 has stranded conductors. Is that acceptable on fire alarm terminals?

The 1602UCMRRG uses 19-strand bare copper rather than solid. Before buying, confirm that the panel manufacturer allows stranded conductors on the NAC terminals and that the notification appliance terminals accept it. Also confirm with your local authority having jurisdiction, since acceptance of stranded on these circuits is their call.

What if I need solid 16/2 for the notification circuits?

The fallback is the plenum solid-copper 16/2 from the fire alarm line, since FPLP is permitted where FPLR is required. It will cost more than a riser-only cable, but it gives you solid conductors under the terminals. Confirm the conductor type requirement with the system designer and the AHJ before choosing.

Do I need plenum cable anywhere on this job, or is riser enough?

FPLR covers the vertical shaft between floors and the floor runs as described. If any run passes through an air-handling plenum, that portion needs FPLP, which is also acceptable in the riser. Walk the routing with the fire alarm system designer and confirm the requirement with your local authority having jurisdiction.

What if the voltage drop on the longest notification circuit is too high for 16 AWG?

Run the calculation on the longest NAC at full alarm load before you buy. If it exceeds the panel's allowance, move that circuit to 14/2, which is FPLR142URR in the solid bare copper fire alarm line. Keep in mind prices follow the copper market daily, so request the seven-day written quote from the cart once the sizes are settled.

Job guides

Fire alarm cable for a four-story riser, FPLR

Fire alarm wiring in a four-story building: the initiating loops and notification circuits run up a riser and across each floor. Roughly 4,000 ft of 16 AWG 2-conductor for the notification appliances and 3,000 ft of 18 AWG 2-conductor for the initiating devices. Riser rated, unshielded.

Riser-rated fire alarm cable in a four-story building means FPLR-listed (or better) power-limited fire alarm cable for both the initiating loops and the notification circuits. The 18/2 is a straight pick: solid bare copper FPLR. For the 16/2, the catalogue's fire alarm line only carries 16 AWG in plenum (FPLP), so the exact-fit riser product is the 16 AWG control cable, which the catalogue lists as FPLR-rated with stranded conductors; the plenum solid-copper 16/2 is your fallback if you need solid.

Buy listAbout $2,448.70 before shipping and tax

18/2 initiating device loops (SLC)

Solid Bare Copper Fire Alarm Cable (14–22 AWG, 2 & 4 Conductor, Shielded & Unshielded, Riser FPLR & Plenum FPLP)

FPLR182URR$148.05 per reelIn stock

This is exactly what your initiating loops call for: 18 AWG 2-conductor, unshielded, UL-listed FPLR for the vertical riser and the floor runs. Solid bare copper is what you want under fire alarm terminals and holds up better over the life of the system than stranded. Red FR-PVC jacket keeps the circuits identifiable in the shaft.

3,000 ft plus 15 percent for service loops, terminations and waste is 3,450 ft, which rounds up to four 1,000 ft reels.

Also consider: FPLP182UBR is the same 18/2 unshielded in plenum FPLP; it costs more but covers you if any floor run turns out to cross an air-handling space.

$592.20

4 reels

Product page and datasheet

16/2 notification appliance circuits (NAC)

16 AWG Commercial Security & Control Cable (2 & 4 Conductor, Shielded & Unshielded, Riser & Plenum)

1602UCMRRG$371.30 per reelIn stock

This is the only 16 AWG 2-conductor riser-rated unshielded cable in the catalogue, and the catalogue lists it as CMR/CL2R/CL3R/FPLR, so it meets the riser fire alarm rating your NACs need. Conductors are 19-strand bare copper rather than solid, so confirm your panel and appliance terminals and your AHJ accept stranded before you buy. The 16 AWG size is standard for NACs of moderate length and load, but run your voltage drop calculation on the longest circuit.

4,000 ft plus 10 to 15 percent is 4,400 to 4,600 ft, which rounds up to five 1,000 ft reels.

Also consider: FPLP162URR is solid bare copper 16/2 unshielded in plenum FPLP; plenum listing is accepted where riser is required, so it satisfies the same code requirement with solid conductors at a higher price. If voltage drop is tight on long NACs, FPLR142URR is solid 14/2 riser and gives you roughly 35 percent less resistance per foot.

$1,856.50

5 reels

Product page and datasheet

Everything on the list is in stock.

What we can't supply for this job

The catalogue does not carry a solid bare copper 16 AWG 2-conductor cable with a plain FPLR riser listing; the riser 16/2 offered is stranded, and the solid 16/2 is plenum only.

Assumed: Horizontal runs on each floor are above ceilings that are not used as air-handling plenums; if any are, that portion needs FPLP. Reels are 1,000 ft put-ups. Red jacket is acceptable for both cables, which is the usual convention for fire alarm circuits. Circuits are conventional power-limited SLC and NAC runs, not high-current audio/voice evacuation loops needing heavier gauge.

Fire alarm circuits typically need FPL-type listed cable: FPLR in the vertical shaft between floors, FPLP if any run passes through an air-handling plenum, and FPLP is permitted where FPLR is required. Confirm the requirement, conductor type and jacket color with your local authority having jurisdiction and the fire alarm system designer.
Check the jacket print on the 1602UCMRRG reel for the FPLR listing before installing it on a life-safety circuit, and confirm the panel manufacturer allows stranded conductors on NAC terminals.
Verify reel footage is 1,000 ft on both items before finalizing the count; the quantities above assume it.
Run a voltage drop calculation on the longest notification circuit at full alarm load; if it exceeds the panel's allowance, move that circuit to 14/2 (FPLR142URR).
Prices follow the copper market daily. A seven-day written quote is available from the cart.

Your job is different? Adjust it.

Change the numbers to yours and get your own list at today's prices.

Describe the job. Get the buy list.

You get the parts, the quantities, today's prices and the reasoning, ready to add to the cart.

Questions that come up on this job

Why is the 16/2 recommendation a security and control cable rather than a fire alarm cable?: The catalogue's fire alarm line only carries 16 AWG in plenum (FPLP), not riser. The 16 AWG control cable, 1602UCMRRG, is listed in the catalogue as CMR/CL2R/CL3R/FPLR, so it carries the riser fire alarm rating the notification circuits need. Check the jacket print on the reel for the FPLR listing before installing it on a life-safety circuit.
The 16/2 has stranded conductors. Is that acceptable on fire alarm terminals?: The 1602UCMRRG uses 19-strand bare copper rather than solid. Before buying, confirm that the panel manufacturer allows stranded conductors on the NAC terminals and that the notification appliance terminals accept it. Also confirm with your local authority having jurisdiction, since acceptance of stranded on these circuits is their call.
What if I need solid 16/2 for the notification circuits?: The fallback is the plenum solid-copper 16/2 from the fire alarm line, since FPLP is permitted where FPLR is required. It will cost more than a riser-only cable, but it gives you solid conductors under the terminals. Confirm the conductor type requirement with the system designer and the AHJ before choosing.
Do I need plenum cable anywhere on this job, or is riser enough?: FPLR covers the vertical shaft between floors and the floor runs as described. If any run passes through an air-handling plenum, that portion needs FPLP, which is also acceptable in the riser. Walk the routing with the fire alarm system designer and confirm the requirement with your local authority having jurisdiction.
How much cable should I order, and how many reels is that?: For the 18/2, 3,000 ft plus 15 percent for service loops, terminations and waste is 3,450 ft, which rounds up to four 1,000 ft reels. For the 16/2, 4,000 ft plus 10 to 15 percent is 4,400 to 4,600 ft, which rounds up to five 1,000 ft reels. Verify that both items ship on 1,000 ft reels before finalizing the count, since the quantities assume that footage.
What if the voltage drop on the longest notification circuit is too high for 16 AWG?: Run the calculation on the longest NAC at full alarm load before you buy. If it exceeds the panel's allowance, move that circuit to 14/2, which is FPLR142URR in the solid bare copper fire alarm line. Keep in mind prices follow the copper market daily, so request the seven-day written quote from the cart once the sizes are settled.

Other jobs

Prices are today's and follow the copper and aluminum markets each weekday; quantities are for the example job. Confirm code requirements with your inspector. How we price

Fire alarm cable for a four-story riser, FPLR

Buy listAbout $2,448.70 before shipping and tax

18/2 initiating device loops (SLC)

Solid Bare Copper Fire Alarm Cable (14–22 AWG, 2 & 4 Conductor, Shielded & Unshielded, Riser FPLR & Plenum FPLP)

FPLR182URR$148.05 per reelIn stock

3,000 ft plus 15 percent for service loops, terminations and waste is 3,450 ft, which rounds up to four 1,000 ft reels.

Also consider: FPLP182UBR is the same 18/2 unshielded in plenum FPLP; it costs more but covers you if any floor run turns out to cross an air-handling space.

$592.20

4 reels

Product page and datasheet

16/2 notification appliance circuits (NAC)

16 AWG Commercial Security & Control Cable (2 & 4 Conductor, Shielded & Unshielded, Riser & Plenum)

1602UCMRRG$371.30 per reelIn stock

4,000 ft plus 10 to 15 percent is 4,400 to 4,600 ft, which rounds up to five 1,000 ft reels.

$1,856.50

5 reels

Product page and datasheet

Everything on the list is in stock.

What we can't supply for this job

The catalogue does not carry a solid bare copper 16 AWG 2-conductor cable with a plain FPLR riser listing; the riser 16/2 offered is stranded, and the solid 16/2 is plenum only.

Fire alarm circuits typically need FPL-type listed cable: FPLR in the vertical shaft between floors, FPLP if any run passes through an air-handling plenum, and FPLP is permitted where FPLR is required. Confirm the requirement, conductor type and jacket color with your local authority having jurisdiction and the fire alarm system designer.
Check the jacket print on the 1602UCMRRG reel for the FPLR listing before installing it on a life-safety circuit, and confirm the panel manufacturer allows stranded conductors on NAC terminals.
Verify reel footage is 1,000 ft on both items before finalizing the count; the quantities above assume it.
Run a voltage drop calculation on the longest notification circuit at full alarm load; if it exceeds the panel's allowance, move that circuit to 14/2 (FPLR142URR).
Prices follow the copper market daily. A seven-day written quote is available from the cart.

Your job is different? Adjust it.

Change the numbers to yours and get your own list at today's prices.

Describe the job. Get the buy list.

You get the parts, the quantities, today's prices and the reasoning, ready to add to the cart.

Questions that come up on this job

Why is the 16/2 recommendation a security and control cable rather than a fire alarm cable?: The catalogue's fire alarm line only carries 16 AWG in plenum (FPLP), not riser. The 16 AWG control cable, 1602UCMRRG, is listed in the catalogue as CMR/CL2R/CL3R/FPLR, so it carries the riser fire alarm rating the notification circuits need. Check the jacket print on the reel for the FPLR listing before installing it on a life-safety circuit.
The 16/2 has stranded conductors. Is that acceptable on fire alarm terminals?: The 1602UCMRRG uses 19-strand bare copper rather than solid. Before buying, confirm that the panel manufacturer allows stranded conductors on the NAC terminals and that the notification appliance terminals accept it. Also confirm with your local authority having jurisdiction, since acceptance of stranded on these circuits is their call.
What if I need solid 16/2 for the notification circuits?: The fallback is the plenum solid-copper 16/2 from the fire alarm line, since FPLP is permitted where FPLR is required. It will cost more than a riser-only cable, but it gives you solid conductors under the terminals. Confirm the conductor type requirement with the system designer and the AHJ before choosing.
Do I need plenum cable anywhere on this job, or is riser enough?: FPLR covers the vertical shaft between floors and the floor runs as described. If any run passes through an air-handling plenum, that portion needs FPLP, which is also acceptable in the riser. Walk the routing with the fire alarm system designer and confirm the requirement with your local authority having jurisdiction.
How much cable should I order, and how many reels is that?: For the 18/2, 3,000 ft plus 15 percent for service loops, terminations and waste is 3,450 ft, which rounds up to four 1,000 ft reels. For the 16/2, 4,000 ft plus 10 to 15 percent is 4,400 to 4,600 ft, which rounds up to five 1,000 ft reels. Verify that both items ship on 1,000 ft reels before finalizing the count, since the quantities assume that footage.
What if the voltage drop on the longest notification circuit is too high for 16 AWG?: Run the calculation on the longest NAC at full alarm load before you buy. If it exceeds the panel's allowance, move that circuit to 14/2, which is FPLR142URR in the solid bare copper fire alarm line. Keep in mind prices follow the copper market daily, so request the seven-day written quote from the cart once the sizes are settled.

Prices are today's and follow the copper and aluminum markets each weekday; quantities are for the example job. Confirm code requirements with your inspector. How we price