Security & Access Control Multi-Pair Shielded Cables

Summary: Security & Access Control Multi-Pair Shielded Cables

Security & Access Control Multi-Pair Shielded Cables

Windy City Wire’s SmartWire® Security & Access Control multi-pair shielded cables are purpose-built for low-voltage installations where signal integrity and jobsite efficiency matter. Designed for professional integrators and facility teams, these cables support common access control and security devices such as door controllers, card readers, keypads, REX sensors, relays, strikes, and mag locks while helping consolidate multiple circuits into a single, clean pull.

Every SmartWire cable in this category uses bare copper conductors and individually shielded pairs (EPS) to reduce crosstalk and help protect sensitive data and control signals from EMI/RFI. Cables are UL Listed C(UL)US CMR (non-plenum) for use in riser spaces and are RoHS compliant. SmartWire Glide Technology lubrication is standard and helps reduce pull friction, supporting faster, cleaner installations with fewer re-pulls.

How this product line delivers value

• Reliable performance for access control signals: EPS construction helps maintain signal quality for readers, keypads, RS‑485/Wiegand communications, and supervised inputs.
• Fewer home runs, cleaner cable management: Multi-pair designs allow multiple device circuits in one cable, simplifying pathways and saving time at terminations.
• Installer-friendly handling: SmartWire Glide lubrication reduces friction during pulls, supporting faster installs and consistent results.
• Compliance you can specify: UL Listed CMR (non-plenum) and RoHS compliant for commercial environments.
• Color options to standardize your jobs: SmartWire offers a wide range of jacket and stripe color options; custom colors can be specified to align with your standards and speed identification in the field.

Typical applications

• Door access control panels and controllers
• Card readers, keypads, and request-to-exit devices
• Door position switches, relays, strikes, and mag locks (power-limited)
• RS‑485 communications between modules
• Alarm device zones and supervisory loops

Available constructions

• 22 AWG 2 Pair Bare Copper CMR Riser (Non-Plenum) Low-Voltage: Individually shielded pairs (EPS) support clean, noise-resistant runs for readers and door hardware while reducing crosstalk. UL Listed C(UL)US CMR and RoHS compliant.
• 22 AWG 3 Pair Bare Copper CMR Riser (Non-Plenum) Low-Voltage: Each pair is individually foil shielded (EPS) to isolate multiple control circuits within a single cable. UL Listed C(UL)US CMR and RoHS compliant.

Why choose Windy City Wire for your next project

• B2B focus: Products and solutions built for commercial and industrial environments, supported by a knowledgeable team.
• Made in the USA SmartWire®: Consistent quality, reliable copper, and construction designed for low-voltage security and access control work.
• Standardization and identification: Pair color codes and a broad selection of jacket and stripe colors make it easier to label circuits and maintain project standards; custom colors available upon request.
• Consistency across projects: Matching constructions simplify design, installation, and maintenance across multi-site programs.

Partner with Windy City Wire for security and access control cabling that helps you deliver dependable system performance while saving installation time. Contact our team to configure SmartWire to your specifications, including custom jacket and stripe colors, and align your project with a repeatable, scalable low-voltage cabling solution.

Solutions: Security & Access Control Multi-Pair Shielded Cables

Security & Access Control Multi-Pair Shielded Cables

These multi-pair, each-pair-shielded (EPS), riser-rated security and access control cables are designed for reliable low-voltage signaling in commercial and industrial environments. With individually shielded pairs, they deliver clean, consistent performance for door hardware, readers, controllers, and sensors in areas with electrical noise and long runs. UL C(UL)US CMR non-plenum construction supports vertical risers and general building spaces where a plenum rating is not required, and RoHS compliance supports project specifications that prioritize material transparency.

Where these cables fit in the system

• Electronic access control – Connect card/biometric readers (Wiegand or OSDP/RS-485), door position switches, request-to-exit devices, strikes, and maglocks back to door controllers or input modules.
• Intrusion and alarm points – Terminate motion detectors, glass-break sensors, and keypads where shielded data pairs reduce false alarms caused by EMI.
• Intercom and entry communication – Carry analog audio, control signals, and call triggers between door stations and head-end equipment with reduced crosstalk.
• Video surveillance control – Support PTZ telemetry (RS-485/RS-422) and auxiliary triggers alongside power/control runs for field devices.
• Building and elevator interfaces – Provide reliable signaling for relay I/O, floor access control, gate operators, and turnstiles, especially near VFDs and motor loads.

Why choose multi-pair, each-pair-shielded (EPS) cable

• Signal integrity – Individually foil-shielded pairs isolate data from power and dry contacts, reducing crosstalk and electromagnetic interference from lighting, HVAC, elevators, and industrial equipment.
• Cleaner device integration – One cable can serve a complete door opening: for example, reader data and power on separate pairs, plus a pair for door contact or REX in three-pair builds.
• Efficient installation – Consolidating multiple circuits into a single multi-pair reduces conduit fill, speeds pulls, and simplifies termination at panels and device backboxes.
• Standards-driven builds – UL CMR riser-rated and RoHS compliant to support common security specifications across commercial projects.

Common applications by device

• Card and biometric readers – Wiegand or OSDP (RS-485) signaling with a dedicated shielded pair for data and an additional pair for power.
• Door hardware – Power and monitor electric strikes, magnetic locks, and request-to-exit sensors while keeping control and supervisory circuits in isolated pairs.
• Door position and egress – Dry contact monitoring from door position switches and REX buttons with noise-resistant runs.
• Controller and I/O expansion – Clean RS-485 networks between controllers, modules, and readers across risers or extended corridors.
• Intercom – Audio pair plus call/control pair for reliable entry station communication.
• PTZ telemetry – RS-485/RS-422 control for domes and mounts, separate from power feeds to limit interference.

Integrations these cables support

• Access + Video – Reader/door signals coordinated with VMS events via controller I/O and telemetry pairs.
• Access + Building Management – Tie door status, schedules, and alarms into BMS platforms through dry contacts or serial links.
• Elevator, turnstile, and parking control – Reliable signaling for floor-by-floor control, barrier arms, and lane management equipment.
• Time and attendance – Consistent connectivity for readers and terminals interfaced to HR and identity systems.

Industries and environments

• Commercial offices and corporate campuses – Door openings, IDF-to-door risers, and inter-floor controller networks.
• Healthcare – Controlled access to pharmacies, labs, data closets, and staff areas with shielded signaling near medical equipment.
• Education (K–12 and higher ed) – Classroom and residence hall access, lab doors, and integrated intercom at entries.
• Industrial and manufacturing – Noise-prone spaces with VFDs, welders, and conveyors where EPS shielding protects reader and control data.
• Retail and distribution – Back-of-house doors, cages, and gate control tied into intrusion and video systems.
• Hospitality and entertainment – Staff areas, event access points, and back-of-house intercom.
• Government, utilities, and critical infrastructure – Secure perimeters, equipment yards, substations, and control rooms with long runs and high EMI exposure.
• Data centers – Reader, cabinet, and mantrap control with dependable RS-485 and contact runs across risers.

Selecting 2-pair vs. 3-pair for a typical door

• 2-Pair – Ideal when a door requires reader data and power only, or a single powered device plus a dry contact.
• 3-Pair – Adds capacity for door position or REX in addition to reader and lock power, reducing the need for a second home run.

Installation and design notes

• CMR non-plenum – Approved for risers and general purpose spaces; select plenum-rated cable for air-handling spaces.
• Grounding and shielding – For RS-485/OSDP and sensitive circuits, bond the drain/shield according to the equipment manufacturer’s guidance to minimize ground loops.
• Pair allocation – Keep power and data on separate shielded pairs; reserve an additional pair for monitoring or egress where required.
• Run length and voltage drop – Match conductor size and device current to the run length specified by the device manufacturer to maintain stable operation.
• Conductor identification – Color-coded pairs support clear terminations at readers, sensors, and controller I/O to streamline commissioning and service.

What this category delivers

• Low-voltage security cable for access control and intrusion devices in commercial and industrial buildings.
• Multi-pair shielded cable that supports Wiegand, OSDP/RS-485, RS-422, dry contacts, and analog audio control lines.
• UL CMR riser-rated, non-plenum construction for code-compliant vertical and general use pathways.
• RoHS compliance to meet common sustainability and material requirements.

Whether you are wiring single doors or multi-floor systems, these security and access control multi-pair shielded cables provide a dependable backbone for readers, controllers, locks, and sensors while helping installers reduce labor and maintain signal quality across the building.

Frequently Asked Questions: Security & Access Control Multi-Pair Shielded Cables

• What AWG conductors are available with this SmartWire Security & Access Control Multi-Pair Shielded Cables cable?

  22 AWG.

• What other colors is this SmartWire Security & Access Control Multi-Pair Shielded Cables cable available in?

  Available conductor color codes include Black/Red, White/Green, Green/White, and Brown/Blue (pair groupings vary by construction).

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

  These cables use bare copper conductors. Solid or stranded constructions may vary by specific part number—please contact Windy City Wire to confirm the build for your application.

• What length is this SmartWire Security & Access Control Multi-Pair Shielded Cables cable sold in?

  1,000 ft. Windy City Wire manufactures and stocks SmartWire Security & Access Control cable in a 1,000 ft length as our standard offering.

• What are some distinctions between BACnet, RS232 and RS485 cables?

  BACnet is a building automation protocol, not a physical layer. BACnet MS/TP typically runs over RS‑485 twisted pair (commonly 120‑ohm impedance, often shielded), while BACnet/IP uses Ethernet. RS‑232 is single‑ended, point‑to‑point, short‑distance and uses fewer conductors; it is more susceptible to noise. RS‑485 is balanced differential, supports multi‑drop networks over long distances, and benefits from twisted, shielded pairs; individually shielded multi‑pair constructions help minimize crosstalk when multiple signals share a cable.

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