Fire Alarm Cable for Detection and Building Safety Systems

Fire Alarm Cable carries low-voltage signals between fire detection panels, detectors, manual call points, alarm devices and other components of building safety systems. ETK Kablo manufactures screened fire alarm cables for fixed indoor installations with PVC or halogen-free material systems according to project requirements.

The ETK Kablo fire alarm cable range includes J-Y(St)Y Lg with PVC insulation and outer jacket, together with J-H(St)H Lg using halogen-free materials. Both constructions use twisted copper conductors and an overall Al/PET foil screen with a tinned copper earthing wire for electromagnetic protection.

These cables provide flame-retardant signal transmission but should not automatically be described as FE180 or PH120 fire-resistant cables. Where a circuit must continue operating during fire exposure, the project should specify a dedicated circuit-integrity cable such as an appropriate JE-H(St)H fire-resistant construction.

What Is a Fire Alarm Cable?

A fire alarm cable is a low-voltage communication cable used to connect devices within a fire detection and alarm system.

The cable can carry signals between:

• Fire alarm control panels
• Smoke and heat detectors
• Manual call points
• Input and output modules
• Alarm and monitoring interfaces
• Building safety control equipment

Fire alarm circuits can be sensitive to electromagnetic interference, so screened twisted-pair construction is commonly used where the system or installation environment requires additional signal protection.

ETK Kablo Fire Alarm Cable Range

Construction	Material System	Screen	Fire Performance Direction
J-Y(St)Y Lg	PVC insulation and PVC outer jacket	Al/PET foil + tinned copper earthing wire	Flame-retardant
J-H(St)H Lg	Halogen-free insulation and outer jacket	Al/PET foil + tinned copper earthing wire	Flame-retardant, low-smoke and halogen-free

The two constructions address similar signal applications but provide different material behavior during combustion. The project specification, building type and fire strategy should determine which construction is appropriate.

J-Y(St)Y Lg Fire Alarm Cable

J-Y(St)Y Lg Fire Alarm Cable uses Class 1 solid copper conductors with PVC insulation, twisted-pair construction, an overall Al/PET foil screen and a red PVC outer jacket.

The screen includes a tinned copper earthing wire and helps protect alarm signals against electromagnetic interference in building environments containing electrical equipment and power cabling.

The ETK Kablo construction meets applicable flame-retardancy requirements including IEC 60332-1-2. It does not provide FE180 or PH120 circuit-integrity performance.

J-Y(St)Y Lg can therefore provide a practical solution for conventional fire-detection and alarm circuits where PVC materials are permitted and continued operation under direct fire exposure is not specified.

J-H(St)H Lg Halogen-Free Fire Alarm Cable

J-H(St)H Lg Fire Alarm Cable provides a halogen-free alternative to the PVC-based J-Y(St)Y construction.

The cable uses solid copper conductors, halogen-free insulation, twisted conductors, an Al/PET overall screen with a tinned copper earthing wire and a red halogen-free outer jacket.

The construction includes applicable tests for low smoke density, halogen-free performance, corrosive-gas behavior and flame propagation.

This makes J-H(St)H Lg particularly relevant where the project requires low-smoke and halogen-free cable materials in occupied or evacuation-sensitive buildings.

However, halogen-free construction alone does not provide circuit integrity during fire. J-H(St)H Lg should therefore not be specified as an FE180 or PH120 cable unless a different explicitly tested construction is selected.

J-Y(St)Y vs J-H(St)H Fire Alarm Cable

Feature	J-Y(St)Y Lg	J-H(St)H Lg
Conductor	Solid copper	Solid copper
Screen	Al/PET foil + earthing wire	Al/PET foil + earthing wire
Insulation	PVC	Halogen-free compound
Outer Jacket	PVC	Halogen-free compound
Smoke / Halogen Requirement	Standard PVC behavior	Low-smoke and halogen-free performance
Flame Retardancy	Yes, according to applicable test	Yes, according to applicable tests
FE180 / PH120	No	No
Typical Selection Driver	General indoor alarm circuits where PVC is permitted	Buildings requiring LSZH / halogen-free materials

Neither construction is universally better. The correct choice depends on project fire requirements, material specifications and installation environment.

Shielded Fire Alarm Cable

Both ETK Kablo fire alarm cable constructions use an overall metallic screen.

The Al/PET foil surrounds the assembled cable core, while the tinned copper earthing wire provides a convenient electrical connection to the screen.

Screening can help protect low-level fire alarm signals from electromagnetic interference created by nearby electrical equipment and cabling.

However, shielding and fire performance describe separate functions. The foil screen improves electromagnetic compatibility; it does not make the cable fire resistant.

Why Twisted Conductors Matter

Twisting conductors helps maintain balanced electrical characteristics and reduces susceptibility to unwanted electromagnetic coupling.

ETK Kablo's fire alarm constructions arrange conductors in paired or grouped configurations according to the cable size.

This architecture supports stable low-voltage signal transmission between fire alarm devices and control equipment.

The required pair count, conductor size and electrical limits should follow the fire alarm system design and equipment manufacturer's requirements.

Fire Alarm Cable Conductor Sizes

ETK Kablo's J-Y(St)Y Lg and J-H(St)H Lg fire alarm products include several solid copper conductor options.

Conductor Size	Specification Format
0.60 mm	Conductor diameter
0.80 mm	Conductor diameter
1.00 mm	Conductor diameter
1.50 mm²	Conductor cross-section
2.50 mm²	Conductor cross-section

The required conductor size depends on circuit length, electrical resistance, system voltage, connected equipment and the fire alarm manufacturer or consultant specification.

2 Core and 4 Core Fire Alarm Cable Terminology

Fire alarm cable specifications and project documents can describe cable size either by cores or by pairs.

In a paired cable, one pair contains two insulated conductors. Therefore, a 2-pair construction contains four conductors, although professional cable specifications may continue to describe the product according to pair count.

Because terminology varies between projects and markets, buyers should provide the full required configuration rather than relying only on phrases such as “2 core fire alarm cable” or “4 core fire alarm cable.”

The conductor diameter or cross-section should also be specified separately.

LSZH Fire Alarm Cable

LSZH fire alarm cable is commonly specified in buildings where smoke generation and corrosive halogen gases can create additional hazards during evacuation.

J-H(St)H Lg provides ETK Kablo's halogen-free fire alarm cable construction.

Applicable tests include requirements for:

• Smoke density
• Halogen content
• Corrosive combustion gases
• Flame propagation
• Single-cable flame retardancy

LSZH should not be treated as another term for fire resistance. The material system can improve smoke and gas behavior without maintaining electrical continuity during prolonged fire exposure.

PVC Fire Alarm Cable

PVC remains a practical material for many indoor fire alarm and low-voltage signal installations where the building specification permits it.

J-Y(St)Y Lg uses PVC insulation and a PVC outer jacket together with the same general screened signal architecture.

PVC can provide mechanical durability and cost efficiency, but its combustion behavior differs from a halogen-free cable. Projects with strict smoke and halogen requirements should therefore evaluate the J-H(St)H Lg construction or another suitable LSZH design.

Fire Alarm Cable vs Fire Resistant Cable

This distinction is essential when specifying life-safety wiring.

Characteristic	Standard Fire Alarm Cable	Fire Resistant Cable
Example	J-Y(St)Y Lg / J-H(St)H Lg	JE-H(St)H Bd FE180 PH120
Main Function	Fire detection and alarm signal transmission	Maintain critical circuit integrity during defined fire exposure
Flame Retardancy	Available	Typically also specified according to construction
LSZH Option	Yes, J-H(St)H Lg	Yes, depending on construction
FE180	No	Available on applicable construction
PH120	No	Available on applicable construction

A fire alarm cable therefore does not automatically need to be a fire-resistant cable. The required circuit-integrity performance depends on the circuit function, local regulations, fire strategy and project specification.

When Is FE180 or PH120 Required?

Some fire alarm and life-safety circuits must continue operating while exposed to fire. Those circuits require a dedicated fire-resistant construction rather than a standard J-Y(St)Y or J-H(St)H Lg cable.

ETK Kablo manufactures fire-resistant signal cables such as JE-H(St)H Bd FE180 PH120 for these requirements.

FE180 and PH120 are separate fire-performance concepts and should only be specified when the project requires the corresponding tested circuit integrity.

The cable should always match the exact fire strategy and approval requirements rather than simply selecting the product with the highest apparent fire rating.

Flame Retardant vs Fire Resistant Fire Alarm Cable

A flame-retardant fire alarm cable is designed to limit flame propagation under its applicable test conditions.

A fire-resistant cable must additionally maintain the required electrical circuit during the applicable fire-integrity test.

Passing a flame-retardancy test does not automatically demonstrate circuit integrity.

This is why J-H(St)H Lg can provide halogen-free, low-smoke and flame-retardant performance while still remaining different from JE-H(St)H Bd FE180 PH120.

Addressable and Conventional Fire Alarm Systems

Fire alarm cabling can be used in conventional or addressable detection architectures, depending on the electrical requirements of the installed system.

Addressable systems can place specific limits on resistance, capacitance, loop length and cable topology. Conventional circuits can also have manufacturer-defined electrical limits.

For this reason, cable selection should follow:

• Fire alarm panel manufacturer requirements
• Maximum loop or zone length
• Conductor resistance
• System voltage
• Device loading
• Required screening
• Local regulations

A generic cable description should not replace the electrical requirements specified by the fire alarm system manufacturer.

Indoor Installation of Fire Alarm Cable

ETK Kablo's J-Y(St)Y Lg and J-H(St)H Lg fire alarm products are intended primarily for fixed indoor building communication and alarm applications.

Typical installation routes can include:

• Cable trays
• Conduits
• Risers
• Protected building routes
• Control and technical rooms

Outdoor or direct-burial suitability should not be assumed from the words “fire alarm cable” or from sheath color. External routes require a construction specifically suitable for the environmental and mechanical conditions of the installation.

Applications of Fire Alarm Cable

ETK Kablo fire alarm cables can support low-voltage circuits in applications such as:

• Fire detection systems
• Smoke and heat detector circuits
• Manual call point circuits
• Fire alarm panel connections
• Alarm monitoring circuits
• Building safety signaling
• Intercom and compatible communication circuits
• Building management interfaces
• Commercial and public building alarm infrastructure

Where a circuit must maintain operation during fire exposure, a suitable fire-resistant construction should be specified separately.

Fire Alarm Cable for Hospitals, Airports and Public Buildings

Hospitals, airports, schools, shopping centers, high-rise buildings and other occupied facilities can place additional requirements on cable smoke and gas behavior.

Halogen-free J-H(St)H Lg can be relevant in these environments where the project requires LSZH materials.

However, the building type alone does not determine whether standard flame-retardant cable or FE180/PH120 fire-resistant cable is required. The circuit function and project fire strategy remain the deciding factors.

CPR Classification for Fire Alarm Cable

For European building projects, the Construction Products Regulation can require a specified reaction-to-fire classification for permanently installed cable.

CPR classification belongs to the exact tested cable construction. It should therefore be confirmed from the applicable Declaration of Performance rather than assumed from the terms PVC, LSZH or fire alarm cable.

A halogen-free cable does not automatically receive a specific CPR Euroclass, and a CPR classification does not automatically provide FE180 or PH120 circuit integrity.

How to Specify a Fire Alarm Cable

A complete quotation request should define the electrical, material and fire requirements separately.

Specification Item	Information to Provide
Cable Construction	J-Y(St)Y Lg, J-H(St)H Lg or required equivalent
Pair / Core Count	Required number of conductors or pairs
Conductor Size	Required diameter or cross-section
Material	PVC or halogen-free / LSZH
Screening	Overall screened construction or project-specific requirement
Flame Performance	Required flame-propagation or flame-retardancy test
Circuit Integrity	FE180 / PH120 only where explicitly required
CPR	Required Euroclass and additional classification
Installation	Indoor route, conduit, tray, riser or other environment
Documentation	Datasheet, DoP, test documentation and project certificates

Why Choose ETK Kablo for Fire Alarm Cable?

ETK Kablo manufactures both conventional fire alarm signal cables and dedicated fire-resistant cable families, allowing project teams to distinguish between flame-retardant alarm wiring and circuits that require continued operation during fire.

ETK Kablo's Fire Alarm Cable range provides screened PVC and halogen-free constructions, while the wider ETK Kablo portfolio includes FE180, PH120 and E30/E60/E90 fire-resistant products for critical life-safety circuits.

ETK Kablo can evaluate conductor size, pair count, screen requirement, sheath material, CPR requirement and circuit-integrity specification together during the technical quotation process.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fire Alarm Cable

What cable is used for a fire alarm system?

The correct cable depends on the fire alarm system and project requirements. ETK Kablo offers screened J-Y(St)Y Lg PVC cable and J-H(St)H Lg halogen-free cable for fire detection and alarm circuits. Circuits that must continue operating during fire require a dedicated fire-resistant construction.

Is fire alarm cable always fire resistant?

No. A fire alarm cable can be flame-retardant without providing circuit integrity during fire. ETK Kablo's J-Y(St)Y Lg and J-H(St)H Lg are not FE180 or PH120 cables.

Is J-H(St)H fire resistant?

The standard J-H(St)H Lg product is halogen-free and flame-retardant, but it does not provide FE180 or PH120 circuit integrity. Dedicated J-H or JE-H fire-resistant constructions should be selected when those ratings are required.

What is a shielded fire alarm cable?

A shielded fire alarm cable includes a metallic screen around the signal conductors to reduce electromagnetic interference. ETK Kablo's J-Y(St)Y Lg and J-H(St)H Lg products use an Al/PET foil screen with a tinned copper earthing wire.

What is the difference between PVC and LSZH fire alarm cable?

PVC and LSZH describe different cable material systems. J-Y(St)Y Lg uses PVC, while J-H(St)H Lg uses halogen-free materials designed for lower smoke and reduced corrosive gas emissions during combustion.

Does LSZH mean fire resistant?

No. LSZH describes smoke and halogen characteristics. Fire resistance requires separate circuit-integrity construction and testing.

What is the difference between fire alarm cable and FE180 cable?

Fire alarm cable describes the application. FE180 describes tested circuit-integrity performance during fire exposure. A fire alarm system can use standard flame-retardant cable on some circuits and FE180 fire-resistant cable where the project requires continued operation during fire.

Does ETK Kablo manufacture fire-resistant fire alarm cable?

Yes. ETK Kablo's separate Fire Resistant Cable range includes constructions such as JE-H(St)H Bd FE180 PH120 for critical fire-alarm and life-safety circuits.

What conductor sizes are available?

ETK Kablo's J-Y(St)Y Lg and J-H(St)H Lg products include 0.60 mm, 0.80 mm and 1.00 mm conductor diameters together with selected 1.50 mm² and 2.50 mm² conductor options.

What information should I provide when requesting a quotation?

Provide the cable type, pair or core count, conductor size, PVC or LSZH requirement, circuit-integrity requirement if applicable, CPR classification, quantity, packing length and required project documentation.