POWER-LIMITED FIRE ALARM CABLES CONTINUED San Francisco CA

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 San Francisco.

Local Companies

HighCom Security Inc.
(415) 834-0505
27 Maiden Lane, Ste. 590
San Francisco, CA
Trauma Outreach Associates, Inc.
(415) 772-9999
582 Market St., Ste. 717
San Francisco, CA
ME911
(415) 358-5700
71 Stevenson St., Ste. 400
San Francisco, CA
Security Training Institute
(415) 565-5100
15 Guy Place
San Francisco, CA
Securitas Security Services
(415) 808-1722
120 Howard St., Ste. 640
San Francisco, CA
Camelot Private Security Inc.
(415) 722-5826
236 West Portal Ave., Ste. 343
San Francisco, CA
Pacific Auxiliary Fire Alarm Co. (PAFA)
(415) 467-9393
95 Boutwell St.
San Francisco, CA
ABC Security Service Inc.
(510) 436-8057
1840 Embarcadero
Oakland, CA
Detect All Security Systems
(510) 835-4100
399 Orange St
Oakland, CA
Capture Technologies Inc
(510) 534-5050
3575 Alameda Ave
Oakland, CA

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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

HighCom Security Inc.

(415) 834-0505
27 Maiden Lane, Ste. 590
San Francisco, CA