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760.176 Listing and Marking of NPLFA Cables
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Non-power-limited fire alarm cables installed as wiring within buildings shall be listed in accordance with 760.176(A) and (B) and as being resistant to the spread of fire in accordance with 760.176(C) through (F), and shall be marked in accordance with 760.176(G). Cable used in a wet location shall be listed for use in wet locations or have a moisture-impervious metal sheath. Non-power-limited fire alarm cables shall have a temperature rating of not less than 60°C (140°F).
(A) NPLFA Conductor Materials
Conductors shall be 18 AWG or larger solid or stranded copper.
(B) Insulated Conductors
Insulation on conductors shall be rated for the system voltage and not less than 600 V. Insulated conductors 14 AWG and larger shall be one of the types listed in Table 310.4(A) or one that is identified for this use. Insulated conductors 18 AWG and 16 AWG shall be in accordance with 760.49.
(C) Type NPLFP
Type NPLFP non-power-limited fire alarm cable for use in other space used for environmental air shall be listed as being suitable for use in other space used for environmental air as described in 300.22(C) and shall also be listed as having adequate fire-resistant and low smoke-producing characteristics.
Informational Note: One method of defining a cable that is low-smoke producing cable and fire-resistant cable is that the cable exhibits a maximum peak optical density of 0.50 or less, an average optical density of 0.15 or less, and a maximum flame spread distance of 1.52 m (5 ft) or less when tested in accordance with NFPA 262-2019, Standard Method of Test for Flame Travel and Smoke of Wires and Cables for Use in Air-Handling Spaces.
(D) Type NPLFR
Type NPLFR non-power-limited fire alarm riser cable shall be listed as being suitable for use in a vertical run in a shaft or from floor to floor and shall also be listed as having fire-resistant characteristics capable of preventing the carrying of fire from floor to floor.
(E) Type NPLF
Type NPLF non-power-limited fire alarm cable shall be listed as being suitable for general-purpose fire alarm use, with the exception of risers, ducts, plenums, and other space used for environmental air, and shall also be listed as being resistant to the spread of fire.
Informational Note: One method of defining resistant to the spread of fire is that the cables do not spread fire to the top of the tray in the "UL Flame Exposure, Vertical Tray Flame Test" in ANSI/UL 1685-2010, Standard for Safety for Vertical-Tray Fire-Propagation and Smoke-Release Test for Electrical and Optical-Fiber Cables. The smoke measurements in the test method are not applicable.
(F) Fire Alarm Circuit Integrity (CI) Cable or Electrical Circuit Protective System
Cables that are used for survivability of critical circuits under fire conditions shall meet either 760.176(F)(1) or (F)(2).
Informational Note No. 1: Fire alarm circuit integrity (CI) cable and electrical circuit protective systems may be used for fire alarm circuits to comply with the survivability requirements of NFPA 72-2019, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, 12.4.3 and 12.4.4, that the circuit maintain its electrical function during fire conditions for a defined period of time.
Informational Note No. 2: One method of defining circuit integrity (CI) cable or an electrical circuit protective system is by establishing a minimum 2-hour fire-resistive rating for the cable when tested in accordance with ANSI/UL 2196-2017, Standard for Fire Test for Circuit Integrity of Fire-Resistive Power, Instrumentation, Control, and Data Cables.
Informational Note No. 3: UL guide information for electrical circuit protective systems (FHIT) contains information on proper installation requirements for maintaining the fire rating.
(1) Circuit Integrity (CI) Cables
Circuit integrity (CI) cables, specified in 760.176(C), (D), and (E), and used for survivability of critical circuits, shall have an additional classification using the suffix "CI." Circuit integrity (CI) cables shall only be permitted to be installed in a raceway where specifically listed and marked as part of an electrical circuit protective system as covered in 760.176(F)(2).
(2) Electrical Circuit Protective System
Cables specified in 760.176(C), (D), (E), and (F)(1), that are part of an electrical circuit protective system, shall be identified with the protective system number and hourly rating printed on the outer jacket of the cable and installed in accordance with the listing of the protective system.
(G) NPLFA Cable Markings
Multiconductor non-power-limited fire alarm cables shall be marked in accordance with Table 760.176(G). Non-power-limited fire alarm circuit cables shall be permitted to be marked with a maximum usage voltage rating of 150 volts. Cables that are listed for circuit integrity shall be identified with the suffix "-CI" as defined in 760.176(F). The temperature rating shall be marked on the jacket of NPLFA cables that have a temperature rating exceeding 60°C (140°F). The jacket of NPLFA cables shall be marked with the conductor size.
Informational Note: Cable types are listed in descending order of fire performance.
Table 760.176(G) NPLFA Cable Markings
| Cable Marking | Type | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| NPLFP | Non-power-limited fire alarm circuit cable for use in "other space used for environmental air" | 760.176(C) and (G) |
| NPLFR | Non-power-limited fire alarm circuit riser cable | 760.176(D) and (G) |
| NPLF | Non-power-limited fire alarm circuit cable | 760.176(E) and (G) |
Note: Cables identified in 760.176(C), (D), and (E) and meeting the requirements for circuit integrity shall have the additional classification using the suffix "-CI" (for example, NPLFP-CI, NPLFR-CI, and NPLF-CI).
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