fire system

[jim123]

We have a fire system in our building were the doors are held open by a magnet [24 volt]. When the fire system is activated the magnets loose power in turn the doors close. My question is can I use FPLR cable above the ceiling tiles ,and fish the wire down the wall to a box to install a new set of magnets elsewhere. Or do I have to protect the wire with conduit or put it in flex. Thanks for your help

 

[gadfly56]

We have a fire system in our building were the doors are held open by a magnet [24 volt]. When the fire system is activated the magnets loose power in turn the doors close. My question is can I use FPLR cable above the ceiling tiles ,and fish the wire down the wall to a box to install a new set of magnets elsewhere. Or do I have to protect the wire with conduit or put it in flex. Thanks for your help

If the ceiling cavity is used as an open return for the HVAC system ("other envirionmental air" is the code term) you may not use FPLR naked. In a raceway would be acceptable. Save yourself some trouble and don't use anything except FPLP. You would have to be installing 10's of thousands of feet of cable to make any appreciable difference in material cost.

Also, if you are extending the power supply for the new magnet from an existing magnet, be sure that the total current draw does not exceed the capacity of the power supply. Door magnets are often powered from the fire alarm control panel's auxilliary power terminals, and they may supply as little as 500ma or up to 3 amps.