POWER-LIMITED FIRE ALARM CABLES CONTINUED Charlotte NC

The following contains home security information you should know about power-limited fire alarm cables. Read on if you or a loved one is interested in home improvement and security in Charlotte.

Local Companies

FirstComm, Inc.
704-643-6044
8349-N Arrowridge Blvd.
Charlotte, NC

FirstComm
704-643-6044
8349-N Arrowridge Blvd.
Charlotte, NC

Night Hawk Fire Access Security
888-488-HAWK
13663 Providence Road
Matthews, NC

Piedmont Security Systems
(704) 548-2727
1973 JN Pease Place
Charlotte, NC

Mecklenburg Security Systems
(704) 374-0093
1800 Marguerite Ave
Charlotte, NC

United Security of America Inc
(704) 545-4675
8037 Fairview Rd
Charlotte, NC

Safe and Sound Systems
(704) 544-2651
10718 Carmel Commons Blvd Ste 220
Charlotte, NC

C P I Security Systems
(704) 527-4070
4200 Sandy Porter Rd
Charlotte, NC

Vann Mann Custom Van Center
(704) 399-0900
4025 Queen City Dr
Charlotte, NC

provided by:

DIGGING FOR AN ANSWER TO UNDERGROUND CABLE

Q As a follow up to last month's questions on Power-Limited Fire Alarm Cables (FPL), is there a requirement to use FPL in conduit that is installed underground from one building to another building? The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) says I always have to use "fire alarm cable."

A No. Type FPL is meant to be installed exposed in a building, and when following the rules from Article 760.15, Part B, conduit isn't necessary. To be given the FPL designation is to indicate that the conductor's insulation/jacket will be "resistant to the spread of fire," which is not a factor with buried cable.

Therefore, since FPL is not approved for "wet locations" and there is no such thing as "direct burial FPL cable," you are left with choosing one of three methods. Which method you choose will probably depend on how much you like to dig:

METHOD #1.	METHOD #2.	METHOD #3.
Use Direct Burial Cables or Conductors.	Use Nonmetallic Raceways Listed for Direct Burial Without Concrete Encasement or Other Approved Raceways.	Use Rigid Metal Conduit or Intermediate Metal Conduit.
Only copper conductors are permitted for fire alarm use (stranded or solid).	Cables and insulated conductors installed in enclosures or raceways in underground installations shall be listed for use in wet locations.	Cables and insulated conductors installed in enclosures or raceways in underground installations shall be listed for use in wet locations.
310.7 Direct burial cables or conductors. Conductors used for direct burial applications shall be of a type identified for such use.	i.e. MTW, RHW, RHW-2, TW, THW, THW-2, THHW, THHW-2, THWN, THWN-2, XHHW, XHHW-2, ZW (or Direct Burial cables).	i.e. MTW, RHW, RHW-2, TW, THW, THW-2, THHW, THHW-2, THWN, THWN-2, XHHW, XHHW-2, ZW (or Direct Burial cables).
Bury it at least 24 inches deep.	Bury it at least 18 inches deep.	Bury it at least 6 inches deep.

GREG KESSINGER, SET, CFPS, president of an alarm installing company since 1981, teaches NICET training classes to fire alarm system designers and installers and continuing education seminars for Ohio's fire alarm inspectors. You can reach him at 888-910-2272; e-mail: Greg@firealarm.org; or visit his website at www.FireAlarm.org.

author: By Greg Kessinger

Featured Local Company

FirstComm, Inc.

704-643-6044
8349-N Arrowridge Blvd.
Charlotte, NC
www.firstcomminc.net

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