Fire Alarm Panel

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kbsparky

kbsparky

Senior Member
Location
Delmarva, USA
Here is the scenerio:

There is a 2-unit apartment type buildilng with a sprinkler system installed. These are modular units that were built in a factory, and then brought to the site on trailers, and set in place with a crane. They were pre-wired with type NM-B cable - per usual for modulars.

The sprinkler outfit is providing and installing a fire alarm control panel as part of their system.

They want me to install a 20 Amp circuit for the power supply, using fire-rated cable. I'm thinking this is the red-sheathed MC cable.

Now here is the issue I have: Does the Code require a 20 Amp circuit? Would a 15 Amp circuit be adequate for such an installation?

I can get a small quantity of #14 fire rated MC cable, but the suppliers want me to buy an entire 1000 reel of #12. (I only need about 50 feet for this project).

[Maybe someone here would sell me 50 feet of #12-2 ?]
 
MC cable is not IMO actually 'fire rated'.

Fire rated cable would be cable that can still function while in a fire, type MI cable is one type of fire rated cable.

IMO you need to find out exactly what they are requiring, I highly doubt they really need 'fire rated cable'.
 
i too seriously doubt they want a fire rated cable for the power supply.
i have never used mi cable for the power suppling a fire alarm system--- only for fire pumps.
 
You can get a 2 hour rated cable that is not MI.
This may be required by 6.9.10.4.2 in NFPA 72. There are a lot of details that have to be looked at to see if a cable with two hour rating is required for this application. You can look at NFPA 72 online. Click on "preview" near the bottom of the page. Note that the NFPA 72 sections shown in 760.81(F) FPNs are not correct. This may be because NFPA 72 is a 2007 document and the sections may have been changed since the NEC was published.
Also note that NFPA 72 permits the use of conductors in metal raceways to provide the required protection in cases where the building is fully protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system.
On second thought, is this circuit the supply circuit for a small fire pump?
Don
 
Yes, this is a 2-unit "house"

And the rest of the place is wired typical residential construction.

I may have misunderstood the "fire-rated cable" thing, and will attempt to get a clarification from the fire alarm folks come Monday. The thought that came to mind when I heard the specs was the red MC cable.


 
I don't think the 120VAC feed to the FACP will need to be fire rated. It is battery backed up, if the AC power fails.

Also, there shouldn't be a requirement for a 20 amp circuit. The FACP will have a current requirement and you would treat it like any other equipment. 15 amps will usually good. Most fire panels I deal with only draw about 3 amps or less. Check the specifications on the fire panel if you can get them.
 
Today, we installed the circuits for the panels. Once I confronted them on the so-called "requirement" --- they backed off and said I only needed to use romex with a 15 Amp circuit.

SO, we fished it in concealed, and they did the final connection inside of their control panel.:grin:
 
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