Fire alarm cable (fire alarm wire) comes in two functional types: standard cable that carries signals from detectors and manual call points under normal conditions, and fire-resistant cable that keeps working for a tested period inside a fire, such as PH30 or PH120. Choose it by the circuit’s function in the approved design, size it by voltage-drop calculation and the panel manufacturer’s instructions, and ask for the datasheet and certificate.
This is a practical guide: it explains the names you hear in the Saudi market (FP200, FR, PH30, PH120, shielded and unshielded), common sizes, how to write the cable line in a bill of quantities, and what the consultant checks in the material submittal before approving supply. For a detailed explanation of test standards and pathway survivability, see Fire Alarm Cables in Saudi Arabia: Types, Specifications and Selection.
Key points
- “Fire alarm cable” in the market can mean a standard cable or a fire-resistant one, so always ask for the standard and classification written in the datasheet.
- Shielded cable reduces electrical interference; it does not make the cable fire resistant.
- PH30 and PH120 are BS EN 50200 classifications showing minutes of operation in the test, not trade names.
- FP200 is a trade name for a cable family, not a specification, so ask for the exact version and classification.
- Size is settled by voltage-drop calculation and the panel manufacturer’s limits, not by habit or price.
In this article
- What types of fire alarm cable are sold in Saudi Arabia?
- What do FP200, FR, PH30 and PH120 mean?
- How does fire-resistant alarm cable differ from standard cable?
- Should I choose shielded or unshielded fire alarm cable?
- What are the common fire alarm cable sizes?
- When is fire-resistant cable required?
- What does the consultant ask for before approving alarm cable?
- How do you write the alarm cable line in a bill of quantities?
- FAQ
- Summary
What types of fire alarm cable are sold in Saudi Arabia?
When someone orders “fire alarm cable” on site or from a shop, they may mean any of three families that differ in function and standard:
1. Standard fire alarm cable
It carries signals between the fire alarm control panel, detectors, manual call points (break glass units) and notification devices under normal conditions. In US practice these cables are classified under NFPA 70 Article 760 and UL 1424 as FPL for general use, FPLR for riser runs and FPLP for plenum spaces. All resist flame spread, but none is tested to keep working inside a fire.
2. Flame-retardant and low-smoke cable
“Flame retardant” means the cable limits flame spread along its length, usually shown by an IEC 60332 test. “Low smoke zero halogen” (LSZH or LSOH) describes a sheath that emits less smoke and acid gas. Neither means the circuit will keep working during a fire.
3. Fire-resistant cable
This is what the consultant usually means by “Fire Resistant Cable” for circuits that must keep operating. It is designed to maintain circuit integrity for a set time while exposed to flame, proven by a test such as BS EN 50200, IEC 60331 or UL 2196, depending on the reference adopted for the project.
What do FP200, FR, PH30 and PH120 mean?
These codes appear in quotations all the time, and they mean very different things:
- FP200: a trade name for a family of fire-resistant cables, so widespread that some people use it for any fire-resistant alarm cable. It is not a classification. The published datasheet for the FP200 Gold version, for example, states compliance with the BS 5839-1 “Standard” grade and does not state the “Enhanced” grade. So do not accept “FP200 or equivalent” without stating the required classification.
- FR: used in the market to mean “fire resistant”, but some catalogues use similar codes for “flame retardant”. Do not rely on the abbreviation; read the standard written next to it.
- PH30 and PH120: BS EN 50200 classifications showing how many minutes the cable kept working in the test (30 or 120). In BS 5839-1:2025, the standard grade requires PH30 plus the Annex E water spray test, and the enhanced grade requires PH120 plus BS 8434-2.
- CWZ: an old BS 6387 classification that still appears in some specifications; confirm it is accepted by the designer before relying on it.
How does fire-resistant alarm cable differ from standard cable?
| Type | What it proves | Keeps working in a fire? | Where it is usually specified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard alarm cable (FPL / FPLR) | Flame-spread resistance and permitted installation space | No | Detection circuits where the design does not require survivability |
| Flame retardant (IEC 60332) | Limited flame spread on the cable | No | General requirement for cables in buildings |
| Low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) | Less smoke and gas from the sheath | No, unless also fire resistant | Enclosed spaces and escape routes, per the specification |
| Fire resistant PH30 (BS EN 50200) | At least 30 minutes of operation in the test | Yes, for the tested period | Standard grade in BS 5839-1 |
| Fire resistant PH120 with BS 8434-2 | Proven 120 minutes of operation | Yes, for the tested period | Enhanced grade in large or complex buildings |
| CI cable (UL 2196) | Circuit integrity in US practice | Yes, within the listed system | Projects adopting NFPA 72 survivability pathways |
The classification applies to the cable as tested, with its fixings and installation method. A fire-resistant cable held with plastic ties may fall before its rated time.
Should I choose shielded or unshielded fire alarm cable?
Shielded cable has an aluminium foil screen around the conductors with a drain wire connected to earth, limiting interference from power cables, variable speed drives and nearby equipment. Unshielded cable has no such screen.
The practical rule: follow the panel installation manual. Many manufacturers of addressable systems specify the cable permitted for loop circuits, and may require shielding or set maximum lengths that vary by cable type. If the cable is shielded, terminate the drain wire as the manual specifies, because a screen that is left unconnected or earthed at more than one point can cause problems instead of solving them.
Remember that shielding is an electrical function unrelated to fire. A shielded FPLR cable is still a standard cable, and a fire-resistant cable may be shielded or unshielded. For loop design and length limits, see addressable fire alarm loop design.
What are the common fire alarm cable sizes?
Sizes are written in two ways in the Saudi market: in square millimetres, such as “2×1.5” and “2×2.5” (number of conductors × conductor cross-section), or in American Wire Gauge (AWG), such as 18, 16 and 14. The approximate conversion helps when comparing two offers:
- 18 AWG is about 0.82 mm².
- 16 AWG is about 1.31 mm².
- 14 AWG is about 2.08 mm².
A practical note: if the project specification refers to BS 5839-1, its minimum conductor cross-section is 1 mm², unchanged in the 2025 edition. An 18 AWG cable does not meet that minimum, even if it is acceptable on a project that follows the US reference.
Within the permitted range, size depends on two things: voltage drop along the circuit, out and back, and the panel manufacturer’s limits on resistance, capacitance and loop length. Notification circuits (sounders and beacons) draw more current than detector circuits and may need a larger cross-section over long runs. The Fire World cables article gives a worked example of how size affects circuit resistance.
On colour, BS 5839-1 recommends red so alarm cables are easy to identify, and advises against black or white. The approved specification settles the sheath colour on your project.
When is fire-resistant cable required?
Not every alarm circuit needs fire-resistant cable. The requirement follows the circuit’s function, the evacuation strategy and the adopted reference. Circuits that often appear in project specifications include:
- Loudspeaker circuits in voice evacuation systems, especially where the design uses partial or phased evacuation.
- Network links between panels in large buildings.
- Notification circuits that must keep working during evacuation.
- Smoke control, door and lift circuits linked to the cause and effect matrix.
On Saudi projects, the Saudi Fire Protection Code (SBC 801) and Civil Defense set the applicable reference, and the approved design sets the grade of each circuit. So do not decide the cable type on site; take it from the cable schedule in the approved drawings.
What does the consultant ask for before approving alarm cable?
Before supply, the contractor submits a material submittal for the cable, and the consultant reviews it against the specification. The most common requests:
- Datasheet for the exact model and size: construction, conductor size, voltage, insulation and sheath type, and sheath colour.
- Standard and classification in writing: such as PH30 with Annex E, PH120 with BS 8434-2, or UL 2196, not just “fire resistant”.
- Independent certificate: covering the construction and size as supplied, with a number that can be checked in the issuing body’s register.
- Compatibility with the panel: a document or reference from the panel manufacturer’s manual stating the permitted cable type and length limits.
- Fixings and supports: for fire-resistant cable, the metal clips and fixings it was tested with or that the manufacturer specifies.
- Conformity documents: where the product falls under a SASO technical regulation, its certificate on the SABER platform.
The most common reasons for rejection: a datasheet for a similar model rather than the one supplied, a certificate that does not state the duration, a shielded standard cable submitted as fire resistant, or a size below the specification minimum. The drawings and specifications review service helps catch these gaps before submission.
How do you write the alarm cable line in a bill of quantities?
A vague line such as “fire alarm cable 2×1.5 – 100 m” invites offers that are not comparable. Write instead:
- Function: detection circuit, notification circuit, voice evacuation circuit or network link.
- Number of conductors and cross-section: for example two conductors of 1.5 mm².
- Required classification: standard, PH30 with Annex E, or PH120 with BS 8434-2, per the cable schedule.
- Shielding: shielded or unshielded, per the panel manual.
- Sheath: low smoke zero halogen if specified, and colour.
- Fixings: type and material for fire-resistant routes.
- Documents required with supply: datasheet, certificate and conformity documents.
FAQ
Is every red alarm cable fire resistant?
No. Colour says nothing about classification. A shielded FPLR cable may be red and still be a standard cable; the reference is the standard and duration in the datasheet and certificate.
Does FP200 mean PH120?
Not necessarily. FP200 is a trade name for a cable family, and each version has its own classification. Ask for the classification in the datasheet of the version offered and compare it with the specification.
What is the right fire alarm cable size?
There is no single size for every circuit. It is settled by voltage-drop calculation and the panel manufacturer’s limits, while respecting the minimum in the adopted reference, which is 1 mm² in BS 5839-1.
Does shielding make a cable fire resistant?
No. Shielding only reduces electrical interference. A fire-resistant cable may be shielded or unshielded, depending on what the panel manual requires.
Who decides the cable type on a project?
The approved design and cable schedule, under the Saudi Fire Protection Code (SBC 801) and Civil Defense requirements; the consultant then reviews it in the material submittal before supply.
Summary
Choosing fire alarm cable starts with the circuit’s function in the design, not with a trade name or a colour. Decide whether the circuit needs a fire-resistant classification, then size it by voltage drop, then choose shielding per the panel manual, and write all of it into the bill of quantities so offers are compared on one basis and the submittal is not rejected.
Have a cable schedule or supply offer you want reviewed? AZEIDK supplies shielded FPLR fire alarm cable from Fire World, and our fire alarm systems team can match each circuit to the required classification and review datasheets before approval as part of technical supply. Request a quotation or technical consultation
