Fire Alarm System Wiring and Installation Requirements
10.6.2 Wiring Installation Requirements
The following requirements shall be met for wiring installation:
10.6.2.1 Conductor Specifications
All conductors shall be a minimum of #16 gauge solid copper, type THHN, THWN, or TFN. All wiring shall be run continuously from device to device.
10.6.2.2 Circuit Separation
The minimum separation between outgoing and return circuits shall be a minimum of one foot vertically and four feet horizontally, in accordance with the provisions of NFPA-72 6.4.2.2.2.
10.6.2.3 Cable Cutting
A cable-cutting tool with a controlled depth of cut shall be used in all MC cable installations.
10.6.2.4 MC Cable Connectors
UL-listed type MC cable connectors with insulated bushings and screw-type cable attachments shall be used in all MC cable installations. Connectors shall be steel, not the cast type.
10.6.2.5 Conductor Size and Voltage Drop
Conductor size shall be increased as required to limit voltage drop to a maximum of three percent.
10.6.2.6 Initiating Device and Notification Appliance Support
All initiating devices and notification appliances shall be supported independently of their attachment to the circuit conductor.
10.6.3 Fire Alarm System Conductor Color Code
The following color code shall be used for all fire alarm system conductors:
10.6.3.1 Initiating Device Circuit (IDC/SLC)
Red and black. Red shall be positive and black shall be negative.
10.6.3.2 Notification Appliance Circuit (NAC)
Blue and white. Blue shall be positive and white shall be negative. When bells, chimes, or other audible/visual devices are used in lieu of horns, this color code shall be followed.
10.6.3.3 Flashing Strobe Circuit
If a separate feed is required, it shall be blue and white. Blue shall be positive and white shall be negative.
10.6.3.4 Sprinkler/Standpipe Circuits
Red and black. Red shall be positive and black shall be negative.
10.6.3.5 Smoke Detector Circuits
If a separate power feed is required, it shall be brown and violet. Violet shall be positive and brown shall be negative.
10.6.3.6 Auxiliary Remote Power Supply Circuits
Brown and violet. Violet shall be positive and brown shall be negative.
10.6.3.7 Electro-Magnetic Door Holdback Circuits
Gray and gray.
10.6.3.8 Municipal Master Box Tripping Circuits
Orange and orange. Conductors for this circuit shall be installed in a separate raceway.
10.6.3.9 Elevator Capture Circuits
Brown and yellow.
10.6.3.10 HVAC Shutdown Circuits
Orange and yellow.
10.6.3.11 Remote Annunciator Circuits
Violet and numbered at each end.
10.6.3.12 Bond Wires
Bond wires from the control panel to the master box ground rod, and all requiring bonding conductors, shall be green or bare.
10.6.3.13 Municipal Fire Alarm Loop
Black and white.
10.6.3.14 AC Supply Circuit
White, black, and red. Black shall be one phase and red shall be the opposite phase, if required. White shall be neutral. If a separate feed for the battery is required, it shall be black and white unless the main fire alarm control unit requires only one AC feed. In that case, the conductors to the battery charger should be red and white.
10.6.4 Primary AC Power and Battery Charger Circuits
Primary AC power and/or battery charger circuits shall be on dedicated branch circuits. Circuit breaker locks shall be provided and listed for use with the applicable circuit breaker. The location of the circuit disconnecting means shall be permanently identified at the fire alarm control unit. AC and DC portions of the system shall be installed in separate raceways. [NFPA 72 4.4.1]
10.6.5 Fire Alarm Wiring and Terminal Cabinets
Any fire alarm wiring between the fire alarm control unit and remote terminal cabinets, or between remote terminal cabinets, may, at the option of the installer, be a multi-conductor cable with each conductor numbered at two-inch intervals. All wiring from terminal cabinets to alarm devices shall conform to the color code specified above. Terminal cabinets with hinged, lockable red covers shall be provided at all junction points. All conductor splices or terminations shall be made on screw-type terminal blocks. Wire nuts, butt, or crimp-type connectors shall not be used. All terminals within a terminal cabinet shall be properly labeled.
10.6.6 Heat and Smoke Detector Spacing
Spacing and location of heat detectors or smoke detectors required by this Code shall be in accordance with NFPA 72.
10.6.7 Smoke Detector Installation and Cleaning
Smoke detectors shall not be installed until after the construction clean-up of all trades is complete and final. Detectors that have been installed prior to final clean-up by all trades shall be cleaned or replaced per NFPA 72, Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance. [NFPA 72 5.7.1.11]