Security and alarm cables are light-gauge, thin cables that are used for power supply and data transmission within security and alarm systems.

They have a wide range of different applications and there are many different types of them too. Some of the more common species will be covered here.

• Fire alarm cable: Fire alarm cables are a special subset of security and alarm cable that are used to power fire alarm systems, and are intended to ensure operability even in the event of a fire. As a result, fire alarm cable is usually made with a heat or flame resistant jacket and are manufactured to other stringent specifications. They are used to power smoke alarms, heat detectors and communications systems in residential and commercial applications.
  
  
• Coaxial cable: Coaxial cable is a special type of low-voltage cable that is used primarily to run visual data, commonly in a security system. As a result these are commonly used security and alarm cables used with CCTV systems.
  
  
• Security/alarm wire: Used to power security and alarm systems, as well as for data transmission, general security and alarm wire are low-voltage cables that are not subject to the same pressing regulations as fire alarm cable.
  
  
• Access control cable: Access control cable is another low-voltage security wire that is used for access control systems, such as points of entries for gates, buildings, or other restricted areas. These cables provide power and supply data transmission and may support multiple access control devices, such as a swipe card or a keyed entry system. They should be made with high-quality insulation to support a long service life and also be shielded to protect against electromagnetic interference to prevent data loss or disruption.
  
  
• OSDP cable: OSDP, or Open Supervised Device Protocol cable, is a high-quality type of security cable used for communication between access control devices and systems. This type of security and alarm cable is available in both plenum and riser-rated versions and is usually made with a twisted pair that provides excellent protection against interference, and which ensures high signal integrity.

What Do Plenum and Riser-Rated Mean?

Several types of security and alarm cable, such as fire alarm and OSDP cable, are made in both plenum and riser-rated formats.

Plenum space is the space above a drop ceiling, or less commonly, above a raised floor. This is the space reserved primarily for HVAC ductwork. Riser space is the vertical space that communicates between floors.

Riser-rated cables are rated for use in riser space and plenum-rated cables in plenum space. Because of these special ratings, it is important only to use a cable in the space for which it was designated.

What Is Shielded Security and Alarm Cable?

Shielded security and alarm cable is cable that has been wrapped in a protective metallic sheathing, sort of like foil. This creates a cage around the cable that effectively insulates it to competing electromagnetic signals, which are known as electromagnetic interference or EMI. Shielded cables are better protected against signal loss and uphold a higher standard of data fidelity than unshielded cables.

Here for High-Quality Security or Alarm Cable?

In the market for high-quality security and alarm cable, or are you looking for a place where you can learn more?

Visit EWCS Wire. Their website has tons of helpful resources where you can learn more about the many different types of specialty electrical wire and cable on the market, and they sell high-quality representatives of many different types, from low-voltage fire alarm cable to general building wire and even industrial armored cable.

Visit their website or get in touch with them directly for more information.

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