Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Plenum Cables

Summary: Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Plenum Cables

Security & Access Control Multi‑Conductor Composite Plenum Cables

Windy City Wire’s SmartWire composite plenum cables are built for commercial and industrial security and access control installations where reliability, code compliance, and jobsite efficiency matter. By combining lock power conductors with shielded reader pairs under a plenum-rated construction, these low-voltage products and solutions help integrators complete more work with fewer pulls, simplify terminations, and standardize installations across facilities.

Manufactured in the United States, SmartWire cables support common access control circuits—such as electrified locks, strikes, maglocks, door position sensors, and Wiegand/OSDP card readers—while meeting plenum requirements for air-handling spaces. Color-coded conductors aid quick identification, and stranded copper conductors provide flexibility for easier routing in tight pathways.

• Composite design for access control: Pair lock power and data/reader signaling in one cable to reduce conduit congestion and speed rough-in.
• Plenum-rated (CMP) construction: Suitable for use in return air spaces where a plenum access control cable is required by code.
• Shielding where it’s needed: Overall aluminum shield (OAS) on data pairs helps reduce electrical noise; unshielded power element keeps costs in line.
• Flexible stranded copper: Eases pulls and dressing inside panels, trays, and door frames.
• SmartWire Glide lubrication: Standard on every SmartWire cable to reduce friction during pulls by up to 70%, helping protect the jacket and speed installation.
• Color-coded conductors: Clear identification supports consistent terminations and faster troubleshooting in the field.
• Options that fit your project: Available in multiple AWGs (18 AWG and 22 AWG), shielding types (OAS/UNS), and lengths (1000, 500, and 250 FT).
• Standardize your jobs: SmartWire jacket and stripe color options can be customized to align with your organization’s internal standards; contact our team for details.

Choose SmartWire composite plenum cable when you want a single, organized pathway from controller to opening—lock power, reader, REX, and door status wiring all managed in one run. The result is a cleaner install, streamlined pulls, and consistent performance across doors, floors, and sites.

Typical applications
Door controllers, electrified locks/strikes/maglocks, card readers (Wiegand/OSDP), request-to-exit devices, door position switches, and access control power supplies in commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities.

Available constructions

• 18 AWG 4 Conductor Stranded Plenum (CMP) 300V: Unshielded power/control element commonly used for lock power and auxiliary door devices. Color code: Black/Red/White/Green.
• 22 AWG 3 Pair Stranded OAS Plenum (CMP) 300V: Overall-shielded reader/data element designed for card reader and low-level signaling where noise rejection is important. Pair color codes: Black/Red, White/Green, Brown/Blue.

Why partner with Windy City Wire
As a trusted manufacturer focused on low-voltage wire for the security and access control market, Windy City Wire delivers SmartWire products that help integrators reduce installs to a single pull, cut rework, and standardize across projects. Our team can assist with product selection, consolidation of cable types, and custom jacket/stripe colors to align with your deployment standards—helping you plan, procure, and install with confidence on your next project.

Solutions: Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Plenum Cables

Security & Access Control Multi‑Conductor Composite Plenum Cables are engineered for commercial and industrial facilities that need reliable low‑voltage cable for doors, gates, and integrated security systems. By combining power and data elements in a single plenum-rated assembly, these composite cables reduce the number of pulls per opening, streamline terminations, and help maintain orderly pathways from the control panel to field devices. The plenum (CMP) rating supports installation in environmental air spaces common to modern buildings, helping teams meet code requirements while maintaining performance and uptime.

What’s inside a composite plenum cable

• Multiple gauges in one jacket to support both power and signaling at the door. Typical constructions combine an 18 AWG multi-conductor component for lock power with a 22 AWG multi-pair, shielded data component for readers and peripherals. This balances voltage-drop performance for locking hardware with clear, low-noise signaling for credentialing and supervision circuits.
• Available shielding options, including OAS for the communications pairs, help mitigate EMI/RFI from elevators, generators, VFDs, and other building systems. Unshielded power elements are included where shielding is not required.
• Contrasting conductor color combinations—such as black/red/white/green and black/red, white/green, brown/blue—aid field identification and speed troubleshooting without guesswork.
• Available lengths: 1000, 500, and 250 ft to match project size, reduce waste, and simplify material planning.

Common systems and devices supported

• Door access control: electronic locks and strikes, maglocks, door position switches (DPS), request‑to‑exit (REX) devices, egress buttons, power transfer hinges, and door controllers.
• Credential readers and keypads: supports common signaling formats such as Wiegand and OSDP over shielded data pairs for secure, noise‑resistant communication.
• Elevator and turnstile control: destination control panels, call stations, turnstiles, and mantrap interlocks requiring separate power and data conductors.
• Perimeter and parking systems: gate operators, barrier arms, ticketing and credential stations, and vehicle detection interfacing.
• Intrusion and door monitoring: glass‑break and motion sensors, auxiliary contacts, tamper and request lines that benefit from shielded pairs.
• Intercom and video door stations: low‑voltage power and control signaling for stations and relays; composite cabling reduces runs per opening where separate power and control are required.

Where composite plenum cables fit best

• Corporate, campus, and high‑rise commercial: long pathways and densely packed plenums where single‑jacket, multi‑conductor assemblies simplify pulls and labeling.
• Healthcare and life sciences: hospitals, clinics, and labs with stringent air‑handling requirements that necessitate plenum‑rated cable and reliable shielding near imaging and lab equipment.
• Education: K‑12 and higher education facilities standardizing door hardware and reader technologies across multiple buildings.
• Industrial and utilities: manufacturing, energy, and utility sites with high EMI environments; OAS shielded pairs help protect control and reader signals.
• Data centers and technology campuses: secure doors, cages, and MPOE rooms where clean, low‑noise access control cabling is essential.
• Transportation, government, and critical infrastructure: airports, ports, courthouses, corrections, and defense facilities requiring dependable, plenum‑rated access control cable.
• Retail, hospitality, and entertainment: storefronts, hotels, casinos, and venues that benefit from consolidated cable runs and faster serviceability.

Integration with broader security ecosystems

• Interfaces cleanly with access control panels, distributed door controllers, and power supplies for centralized or edge‑based architectures.
• Supports integrations to video management systems, visitor management, identity and credentialing platforms, and building automation where discrete power and low‑voltage signaling are required.
• Helps standardize openings across multiple facilities by using one composite plenum cable for lock power, reader communications, and supervisory circuits.

Why choose a multi‑conductor composite plenum cable for access control

• Fewer pulls per opening: run one composite cable instead of multiple individual cables for lock power, reader data, and door contacts—saving time during rough‑in and trim.
• Performance where it matters: 18 AWG conductors support lock power over longer distances, while 22 AWG shielded pairs protect sensitive reader and control signals.
• Cleaner, more serviceable installs: consolidated pathways reduce congestion in conduit and cable trays; distinct color combinations help identify circuits during commissioning and maintenance.
• Plenum rated (CMP): suitable for installation in environmental air spaces common to commercial buildings.
• Flexible options: OAS/UNS and shielded elements address varied noise environments and device requirements.
• Right‑sized reels: choose from 250 ft, 500 ft, or 1000 ft to reduce waste and match project phases.

Best‑practice selection tips

1. For doors using OSDP readers or where EMI is present, select constructions with shielded communications pairs (OAS) to maintain signal integrity.
2. Use the 18 AWG power conductors to minimize voltage drop to locks, strikes, or maglocks—especially on longer runs or where in‑rush currents are higher.
3. Plan terminations so power and data are separated appropriately at the panel and door hardware; composite designs make homeruns consistent across openings.
4. Leverage conductor color combinations to standardize terminations across sites, easing future service and expansions.

Summary
These Security & Access Control Multi‑Conductor Composite Plenum Cables provide a practical, code‑appropriate way to route lock power and reader/control signals through a single, organized cable. With multiple gauges in one jacket, available shielding (OAS/UNS, shielded), clear conductor color combinations, and multiple length options, they fit the needs of modern low‑voltage access control systems in commercial and industrial environments. The result is a cleaner install, fewer pulls, and dependable performance for door access control, credential readers, gates, turnstiles, and integrated building security.

Frequently Asked Questions: Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Plenum Cables

• What AWG conductors are available with this SmartWire Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Plenum Cables cable?
  

  18 AWG and 22 AWG. This composite design typically combines an 18/4 unshielded element for power/locking circuits with a 22 AWG 3‑pair OAS shielded element for reader/data, delivering both shielded and unshielded components in one plenum-rated cable.

• What other colors is this SmartWire Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Plenum Cables cable available in?
  

  Available color codes include: Black/Red/White/Green; Black/Red; White/Green; Brown/Blue. Custom jacket and stripe color combinations can be produced to standardize your installations—contact Windy City Wire for details.

• Is this SmartWire Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Plenum Cables cable made with solid or stranded copper conductors?
  

  Stranded copper conductors throughout, providing flexibility and durability for access control and security device terminations.

• What length is this SmartWire Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Plenum Cables cable sold in?
  

  Windy City Wire manufactures and stocks this SmartWire Security & Access Control cable in 1,000 ft as the standard length. Additional available lengths include 500 ft and 250 ft. SmartWire Glide lubrication reduces pull friction by up to 70%, and FastFIND Footage Markers every two feet help you measure remaining cable and plan precise point‑to‑point runs with less waste.

• What are some distinctions between BAC NET, RS232 and RS485 Cables?
  

  BACnet (MS/TP): A building automation protocol that commonly runs over RS‑485 physical layer; uses twisted, shielded balanced pairs (typically 120 Ω) for multi‑drop networks across long distances.

  RS‑232: Single‑ended, point‑to‑point signaling; short runs, typically unshielded or lightly shielded multi‑conductor cables; more susceptible to noise and not suited for multi‑drop.

  RS‑485: Differential, balanced signaling over twisted, shielded pairs (about 120 Ω); supports long distances, higher noise immunity, and multi‑drop networks—often the physical layer for BACnet MS/TP.

Additional Links:

• Learn more about our SmartWire Cable
• The RackPack - Our patented cable delivery solution
• Our Transporters - RackPack Transportation Devices
• 19 Stocking Locations Nationwide - Find a Branch near you