Fire Non-Plenum Cables

Summary: Fire Non-Plenum Cables

Fire Non‑Plenum Cables (FPLR) — SmartWire® Low‑Voltage Solutions

Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire low‑voltage fire alarm riser cable for commercial and industrial projects that require reliable performance in non‑plenum vertical runs. Our FPLR (UL) non‑shielded constructions support power‑limited initiating, notification and control circuits across a range of building types, helping contractors, integrators and facility teams meet code while staying on schedule.

Why choose SmartWire Fire Non‑Plenum Cables?

• UL Listed FPLR riser performance: Built for vertical shafts and non‑plenum riser spaces where fire alarm riser cable is required.
• Low‑voltage fire alarm cable you can standardize on: Available in multiple gauges and conductor counts to match common device, zone and NAC runs.
• SmartWire Glide Technology® cable lubrication: Applied during manufacturing to reduce pull friction by up to 70%, helping crews route cable more efficiently with fewer snags and re‑pulls.
• FastFIND Footage Markers: Bold ascending/descending sequential foot markers printed every two feet make it easy to verify the full 1,000‑foot length, calculate point‑to‑point distances on the fly and track remaining footage to reduce waste by 15–25%.
• Clear conductor identification: Standard low‑voltage fire alarm color codes (e.g., Black/Red for 2C; Black/Red/Brown/Blue for 4C; Black/Red/Brown/Blue/Orange/Yellow for 6C) support fast terminations and troubleshooting.
• Made in the USA: Consistent quality and availability for demanding timelines.
• Customization options: Standard and custom jacket and stripe color combinations are available to align with your organization’s identification standards—contact our team for details.

Available options at a glance

• Available AWGs: 12, 14, 16, 18
• Conductor counts: 2, 4, 6 (depending on gauge)
• Shielding: Non‑Shielded
• Lengths: 1000 FT and 500 FT
• RoHS compliant

How Windy City Wire delivers value on your next fire alarm project

From submittal through close‑out, our SmartWire FPLR riser cables help streamline installation and reduce rework. Crews pull faster with SmartWire Glide Technology lubrication, measure accurately with FastFIND Footage Markers, and terminate confidently with consistent conductor color codes. When you need dependable low‑voltage fire alarm cable for large, multi‑floor facilities or campus deployments, Windy City Wire provides products and solutions designed to keep labor predictable and outcomes consistent.

Available Constructions

• 12 AWG 2 Conductor Bare Copper Riser (FPLR) Non‑Plenum, 300V: Non‑shielded cable for longer power‑limited runs and low‑voltage control circuits; standard Black/Red conductor color code supports quick identification.
• 14 AWG 2 Conductor Bare Copper Riser (FPLR) Non‑Plenum, 300V: A balanced choice for initiating and control circuits where moderate run lengths and voltage drop management are required.
• 14 AWG 4 Conductor Bare Copper Riser (FPLR) Non‑Plenum, 300V: Four‑pair capability simplifies homeruns and multi‑device drops; Black/Red/Brown/Blue color code aids organized terminations.
• 16 AWG 2 Conductor Bare Copper Riser (FPLR) Non‑Plenum, 300V: Versatile, non‑shielded 2C for common device loops and control points in riser spaces.
• 16 AWG 4 Conductor Bare Copper Riser (FPLR) Non‑Plenum, 300V: Consolidate multiple circuits over a single pull while maintaining clear identification with standard 4‑conductor colors.
• 18 AWG 2 Conductor Bare Copper Riser (FPLR) Non‑Plenum, 300V: Ideal for typical initiating and notification runs; Black/Red conductors speed termination and service.
• 18 AWG 4 Conductor Bare Copper Riser (FPLR) Non‑Plenum, 300V: Supports combined signaling or spare pairs in a single cable to reduce parallel pulls.
• 18 AWG 6 Conductor Bare Copper Riser (FPLR) Non‑Plenum, 300V: Six conductors enable multi‑zone and multi‑device wiring strategies with clear six‑color identification.

SmartWire feature details

• FastFIND Footage Markers: Every two feet, ascending or descending markers show current footage and remaining length (e.g., “* 0998/0002 FT •”), enabling quick take‑offs, accurate cuts and verification of full 1,000‑foot quantities.
• SmartWire Glide Technology® lubrication: A low‑viscosity jacket coating applied during manufacturing that you won’t see or feel, yet reduces friction by up to 70% to help minimize time spent on tough pulls.
• Jacket and stripe colors: Standard and custom combinations available to support company‑wide cable identification conventions.

All SmartWire fire alarm riser cables are low‑voltage and built for commercial life‑safety applications. Contact Windy City Wire to configure the right products and solutions for your next specification or rollout.

Solutions: Fire Non-Plenum Cables

Fire Non-Plenum Cables (FPLR) for Commercial and Industrial Fire Alarm Systems

Windy City Wire’s Fire Non-Plenum Cables deliver reliable, code-compliant performance for low-voltage fire alarm and life safety systems in commercial and industrial facilities. These UL-listed FPLR riser cables are intended for general building spaces and vertical risers outside of environmental air-handling spaces. They are a dependable choice for contractors, integrators, and engineers who need consistent quality, fast pulls, and clean terminations on large-scale projects.

Where FPLR Fire Cable Fits in Your Design

• Code scope: FPLR is suitable for risers and non-plenum interior spaces. For air-handling spaces, select an FPLP plenum-rated cable. Always follow NFPA 70/72 and local AHJ requirements.
• Construction: Non-shielded, bare copper conductors with a red jacket for clear system identification.
• Gauge and conductor options: 12, 14, 16, and 18 AWG in 2-, 4-, and 6-conductor configurations to support power-limited fire alarm circuits across a range of distances and loads.
• Length choices: Available in 1000 ft and 500 ft lengths to match project needs and reduce waste.
• Color-coded conductors: Options include Black/Red (2C), Black/Red/Brown/Blue (4C), and Black/Red/Brown/Blue/Orange/Yellow (6C) to simplify device/zone identification and speed up terminations.
• Compliance: UL FPLR and RoHS compliant.

Fire Alarm System Types Supported by Non-Plenum (FPLR) Cable

• Conventional (zoned) fire alarm systems: Initiating device circuits (IDCs) for smoke detectors, heat detectors, and manual pull stations; simple and robust wiring in small to mid-size facilities.
• Addressable systems: Signaling line circuits (SLCs) for detectors and modules; efficient device addressing and diagnostics on large commercial projects.
• Notification Appliance Circuits (NACs): Horns, strobes, speaker-strobes, and panels for evacuation signaling; select heavier gauges (14 or 12 AWG) for longer runs and higher current draw.
• Voice evacuation and emergency communication systems: Speaker circuits, supervised audio distribution, and mass notification pathways.
• Auxiliary power-limited control circuits: Relays, door holders, damper controls, and fire relay interfaces to third-party systems.

Frequently Asked Questions: Fire Non-Plenum Cables

• What AWG conductors are available with these SmartWire Fire non-plenum cables?

  Available gauges include 12 AWG, 14 AWG, 16 AWG, and 18 AWG.

• What other colors are these SmartWire Fire non-plenum cables available in?

  Available conductor color codes: Black/Red; Black/Red/Brown/Blue; Black/Red/Brown/Blue/Orange/Yellow.

• Are these SmartWire Fire non-plenum cables made with solid or stranded copper conductors?

  These cables use bare copper conductors. Construction (solid or stranded) varies by specific part number—please contact your Windy City Wire representative to confirm the construction that meets your specification.

• What lengths are these SmartWire Fire non-plenum cables sold in?

  At Windy City Wire, we manufacture and stock SmartWire low-voltage Fire wire in 1,000 ft as our standard length. Select items are also available in 500 ft lengths.

• 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 as part of the complete RackPack Field Systems Solution to help maximize labor savings and efficiency. 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-rated (FPLP) cable is designed for use in environmental air spaces and uses low-smoke, low-toxicity materials to meet stringent code requirements. Non-plenum fire alarm cable (FPL or FPLR) is intended for general purpose and riser applications and is not approved for use in air-handling spaces unless installed in appropriate conduit. Always follow project specifications and the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

• What is the difference between 2-Hour Fire Rated wire and NYC Approved Fire wire?

  2-Hour Fire Rated (circuit integrity) cable is designed and tested to maintain operation for a specified duration (often 2 hours) during a fire, typically to UL 2196 requirements, for life-safety survivability circuits. NYC Approved Fire wire refers to cable that meets New York City’s specific approval and listing requirements for fire alarm installations; see 1 RCNY 4000-06 for details: https://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/downloads/rules/1_RCNY_4000-06_090208.pdf. These designations address different compliance needs and are not interchangeable.

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