Fire 2 Hour Fire Cable | PVC Cables

Summary: Fire 2 Hour Fire Cable | PVC Cables

Fire 2 Hour Fire Cable | PVC Cables

Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire low-voltage fire alarm cables engineered for commercial and industrial environments where dependable performance and code compliance matter. Our 2-hour fire resistive, non-shielded PVC cable solutions are designed for plenum (FPLP) and riser (FPLR) applications and built with bare copper conductors for stable signaling, clear identification, and long-term reliability.

Why choose Windy City Wire for your next project

As a U.S. manufacturer based in Bolingbrook, IL, we focus on delivering consistent, specification-grade fire alarm cable products that help keep projects on schedule and within scope. SmartWire cables include SmartWire Glide lubrication on the jacket, which reduces pulling friction by up to 70% to support faster, cleaner pulls through conduit and building pathways. With options across common gauges and ratings, and with custom jacket and stripe colors available, our fire alarm wire portfolio equips contractors and integrators with practical, low-voltage products and solutions that are straightforward to standardize, install, and maintain.

• 2-hour fire resistive fire alarm cable options in both plenum (FPLP) and riser (FPLR) constructions, listed to UL 1424 where applicable.
• Non-shielded, bare copper 2-conductor designs support typical initiating, notification, and supervisory circuits for power-limited fire alarm systems.
• Available in multiple AWGs (14, 16, 18) to align with voltage drop, current, and device load requirements.
• Red outer jacket and Black/Red conductor color code to streamline identification on site.
• SmartWire Glide lubrication standard to reduce pull tension and help minimize installation time and rework.
• Custom SmartWire jacket and stripe color options available to standardize identification across your organization’s installations.

Applications

• Power-limited fire alarm circuits for initiating devices, NACs, control, and supervision.
• Plenum spaces requiring FPLP cable and vertical shafts requiring FPLR cable.
• Commercial buildings, campuses, industrial facilities, healthcare, hospitality, and mixed-use projects.

Available constructions

• 14 AWG 2 CONDUCTORS Bare Copper Plenum PVC Insulation 300V: Non-shielded FPLP plenum fire alarm cable for air-handling spaces requiring low smoke performance. Rated 2-hour fire resistive for critical signaling continuity.
• 14 AWG 2 CONDUCTORS Bare Copper Low Smoke Zero Halogen Insulation 300V: Non-shielded FPLR UL 1424 riser cable for shafts and general-purpose spaces where plenum rating is not required. Rated 2-hour fire resistive; 90°C operation.
• 16 AWG 2 CONDUCTORS Bare Copper Plenum PVC Insulation 300V: Non-shielded FPLP plenum cable balancing flexibility and voltage drop for mid-length runs. Rated 2-hour fire resistive for code-driven survivability.
• 16 AWG 2 CONDUCTORS Bare Copper Low Smoke Zero Halogen Insulation 300V: Non-shielded FPLR UL 1424 riser cable for vertical installations and equipment rooms. Rated 2-hour fire resistive; 90°C operation.
• 18 AWG 2 CONDUCTORS Bare Copper Plenum PVC Insulation 300V: Non-shielded FPLP plenum cable ideal for shorter device loops and supervision circuits in air-handling spaces. Rated 2-hour fire resistive.
• 18 AWG 2 CONDUCTORS Bare Copper Low Smoke Zero Halogen Insulation 300V: Non-shielded FPLR UL 1424 riser cable for standard fire alarm signaling pathways. Rated 2-hour fire resistive; 90°C operation.

Product details at a glance

• All cables are low-voltage, non-shielded, 2-conductor bare copper with a Black/Red color code under a red jacket.
• Plenum (FPLP) constructions use PVC plenum-rated materials; riser (FPLR) constructions feature low smoke zero halogen insulation.
• SmartWire Glide lubrication applied at manufacturing for reduced friction during pulls.
• Custom SmartWire jacket and stripe colors available to support standardized identification.

Partner with Windy City Wire

Contractors, integrators, and distributors rely on Windy City Wire for consistent low-voltage fire alarm cable that aligns with job specifications and helps reduce installation effort. Explore SmartWire fire alarm cable options for your next project and let our team help you match the right constructions—plenum or riser, 14/2, 16/2, or 18/2—to your code requirements and performance targets.

Note: Always verify local code requirements and project specifications for FPLP vs. FPLR usage and conductor sizing.

Solutions: Fire 2 Hour Fire Cable | PVC Cables

Fire 2-Hour Fire Cable | PVC Cables for Commercial Life Safety

Windy City Wire supplies low-voltage fire alarm cable engineered for two-hour survivability to help keep critical life-safety circuits operational during a fire event. This category focuses on 2-hour fire resistive alarm cable in both plenum (FPLP) and riser (FPLR) constructions, built with bare copper conductors and a red jacket for clear identification in commercial and industrial environments. Non-shielded, 2-conductor options in 14 AWG, 16 AWG, and 18 AWG support a wide range of initiating, notification, control, and voice circuits where shielded cable is not required by the fire alarm control unit (FACU) manufacturer or the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Select constructions feature low-smoke, zero-halogen insulation to support life-safety and air-handling requirements. UL 1424 compliance and 300 V, 90°C ratings provide a dependable foundation for code-driven fire alarm installations.

Where 2-Hour Fire Rated Cable Makes Sense

• Voice evacuation and Emergency Communications (ECS/MNS) speaker circuits requiring pathway survivability
• Firefighter telephone and area-of-refuge communication circuits
• Releasing service and suppression control (clean agent and special hazards) where survivability is specified
• Notification Appliance Circuits (NAC) for horns, strobes, and speakers (as permitted by the panel manufacturer)
• Initiating Device Circuits (IDC) for smoke, heat, beam, and duct detectors when a 2-hour pathway is required by design
• Control circuits for smoke control systems, damper control and monitoring, fire/sprinkler tamper and flow switches, and fire pump controller interfaces
• Elevator recall, door release, access control interface, and generator start signals related to fire alarm functions

Fire System Integrations and Building Interfaces

• HVAC shutdown and smoke control panels, including damper actuation and feedback monitoring
• Elevator recall and shunt trip interfaces coordinated through the fire alarm control unit
• Access control tie-ins for egress door release and door holder power/control
• Mass notification systems for wide-area paging, emergency tones, and critical messaging
• Special hazards: clean agent and pre-action systems for mission-critical rooms and industrial processes
• Building management systems (BMS) and security system links where fire alarm status and control points must remain intact under fire conditions

High-Temperature and Code-Driven Options

• 2-HR fire rated cable (this category): Supports NFPA 72 survivability objectives for circuits that must continue to operate during a fire when installed per code and AHJ guidance. Available in non-shielded, 2-conductor 14/16/18 AWG for common life-safety pathways.
• Armored fire alarm cable: Consider where added mechanical protection is needed, where metallic armor can streamline installation in exposed areas, or where local code or job specifications call for an armor alternative to conduit for survivable circuits.
• NYC approved fire cable: For New York City projects that require specific local approvals, NYC approved fire cable helps align with FDNY expectations and local amendments. Use when specifications or AHJ directives call for NYC-listed constructions.

Selecting the Right Low-Voltage Fire Alarm Wire

• Plenum vs. Riser: Choose FPLP for air-handling spaces, shafts, and areas governed by strict smoke and flame requirements; use FPLR for vertical risers and general floor-to-floor pathways where plenum rating is not required.
• Conductor size (AWG 14/16/18): Match gauge to load and distance. Higher current or longer runs (e.g., speakers and NACs) often benefit from 14 AWG; moderate runs may suit 16 AWG; shorter, lower-load circuits may use 18 AWG, subject to voltage drop calculations and manufacturer specifications.
• Non-shielded construction: Well-suited for many NAC, speaker, control, and releasing circuits. If the FACU requires shielding for specific signaling circuits or the environment is noise-prone, consult the project specifications and consider alternative constructions.
• Identification and termination: Black/Red conductor color coding under a red jacket streamlines device terminations and helps maintain consistent polarity and circuit identification across large jobs.
• Compliance and survivability: UL 1424-listed FPLP/FPLR constructions support code-driven fire alarm installations; use 2-hour fire rated cable for pathways designed to meet NFPA 72 survivability goals when specified by the engineer or AHJ.

Industries and Facility Types

• Commercial offices and high-rise buildings requiring voice evacuation and survivable communication circuits
• Healthcare campuses and life-science facilities with stringent life-safety and air-handling requirements
• Education (K–12 and higher education) with large distributed fire alarm and mass notification systems
• Industrial manufacturing, processing plants, and warehouses with special hazards and integration to suppression systems
• Data centers, laboratories, and clean rooms where releasing service and survivable pathways are common
• Hospitality, multi-family, retail, transportation hubs, and government facilities

Why specify Windy City Wire for 2-Hour Fire Alarm Cable

• Commercial-grade, low-voltage fire alarm wire built for pathway survivability in critical circuits
• Plenum (FPLP) and riser (FPLR) options with 2-conductor bare copper in multiple gauges to fit system design
• Non-shielded constructions that simplify installation where shielding is not required
• Color-coded conductors (Black/Red) and red jacket to help maintain consistency across large deployments
• Designed to support professional installers, integrators, and engineers working to meet NFPA 70/72 and AHJ requirements

For help selecting the right 2-hour fire rated cable for your fire alarm systems, voice evacuation pathways, or releasing circuits, contact Windy City Wire. Our team can assist with gauge selection, plenum vs. riser decisions, and guidance on when to use armored fire alarm cable or NYC approved fire cable to satisfy project specifications and local codes.

Frequently Asked Questions: Fire 2 Hour Fire Cable | PVC Cables

• What AWG conductors are available with these SmartWire Fire 2 Hour Fire | PVC cables?
  14 AWG, 16 AWG, and 18 AWG (2-conductor, bare copper, non-shielded).
• What other colors are these SmartWire Fire 2 Hour Fire | PVC cables available in?
  Black/Red conductor color code. Custom SmartWire jacket and stripe color options may be available—contact Windy City Wire for details.
• Are these SmartWire Fire 2 Hour Fire | PVC cables made with solid or stranded copper conductors?
  Standard construction uses solid bare copper conductors. If your specification requires stranded, please contact us.
• What lengths are these SmartWire Fire 2 Hour Fire | PVC cables sold in?
  Windy City Wire manufactures and stocks SmartWire low-voltage Fire wire in a 1,000 ft length as our standard offering.
• How is your SmartWire low-voltage Fire cables sold on spools or in boxes?
  Our SmartWire Fire wire is packaged in our patented RackPack carton. Learn more about our RackPack: https://windycitywire.com/solutions/rackpack-overview
• What is the main difference between Plenum vs Non-Plenum low-voltage Fire wire?
  Plenum (FPLP) is designed for use in environmental air spaces and meets more stringent smoke and flame requirements; it’s required where cable is installed in return-air plenums. Non-Plenum Riser (FPLR) is for vertical risers and general in-wall runs between floors and is not permitted in plenum spaces.
• What is the difference between 2-Hour Fire Rated wire and NYC Approved Fire wire?
  2-Hour Fire Rated wire is listed to maintain circuit integrity for up to two hours under fire exposure (used where survivability is specified). NYC Approved Fire wire meets New York City-specific rules and approvals, which may be separate from a 2-hour survivability listing. For more information: https://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/downloads/rules/1_RCNY_4000-06_090208.pdf

Additional Links:

• Learn more about our SmartWire Cable
• The RackPack - Our patented cable delivery solution
• Our Transporters - RackPack Transportation Devices
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