Welcome to the Cable Types section of our website
We are frequently asked about the types of cable that are required for each of our systems. This should help answer those questions, however, if you are still unsure please contact our technical team who will be happy to help.
This information is also available in .pdf format which can be downloaded here.
VIGIL2 Voice Alarm/Public Address Systems
| CONNECTION | FIRE RATING(1) | CABLE TYPE |
| Fire alarm inputs | Enhanced | 1.0 or 1.5 mm 2 core per zone for Evacuation or Alert 1.0 or 1.5 mm 2 core for ‘RESET’ (Can be sounder circuits or input/output device) Input/output device should be installed within the VA rack enclosure |
| Fire alarm outputs | Enhanced | 1.0 or 1.5 mm 2 core for ‘General Fault’ of the voice alarm |
| Fire microphone(2) | Enhanced | 2 x 1.5 mm 4 core |
| BVRD control microphone(2) | Enhanced | 2 x 1.5 mm 4 core |
| Touch screen microphone(2) | Enhanced | Standard configuration: 2 x 1.5 mm 4 core Refer to user manual if hard wired bypass required and for wall plate connection options |
| BDM paging microphone(2) | N/A | 2 x 1.5 mm 4 core (screened) or 2 x 4 core fire rated enhanced |
| PC/graphics package interface | Enhanced | 3 x 1.5 mm 4 core |
| Ambient noise sensor | N/A | 1.5 mm 4 core |
| Network | Enhanced | Copper Network: 1 x 1.5 mm 4 core (fire rated enhanced) wired as a loopDistance parameters for Copper: 300 m – 6 channel – slow 200 m – 14 channel – fastFibre Network Multi-mode (6 or 14 channel) 2 cores required wired as a loop (ST termination): OM1 (62.5/125) – 3 km OM2 (50/125) – 2 km OM3 (50/125) – 2 kmFibre Network Single-mode (6 or 14 channel) 2 cores required wired as a loop (ST termination): OS1 (9/125) – 4 km O22 (9/125) – 4 km |
| BGM inputs | N/A | Any screened 2 core cable |
| Analogue volume controls | N/A | Any screened 2 core cable |
| RPVS digital volume controls | N/A | 2 pair twisted cable or CAT5 or 4 core screened NB: where possible do not connect RPVS volume controls to the same physical RS485 port as Emergency Microphones. If unavoidable connect via Enhanced fire rated cable |
| RPAIV music select panels | N/A | Any screened 4 core cable |
| Loudspeaker lines | Standard | 1.5 mm 2 core NB: screen continuity required for BEL1 monitoring |
| Monitor loudspeaker | N/A | 1.5 mm 2 core cable
NB: if connected to live zone loudspeaker output and physically separated from rack – 2 core standard fire rated should be used |
| Annunciator panel(2) | Enhanced | 4 x 1.5 mm 4 core NB: 2 x (2 x 1.5 mm 4 core) wired via diverse routes |
Cable types Key
N/A – Does not require a fire rated cable as this is classed as non-critical. As such a PVC type flex cable would be adequate.
Standard – Fire rated ‘standard’ cable.
Enhanced – Fire rated ‘enhanced’ cable.
Footnotes
(1) – Baldwin Boxall recommends that Enhanced Fire Rated cable should be used where possible for system reliability however please see BS5839-8 Clause 27 for more information regarding standard or enhanced fire rated cabling.
(2) – Audio and RS485 data should not be run in the same cable.
VIGIL3 Voice Alarm/Public Address Systems
| CONNECTION | FIRE RATING(1) | CABLE TYPE |
| Fire alarm inputs | Enhanced | 1.0 or 1.5 mm 2 core per zone for Evacuation or Alert 1.0 or 1.5 mm 2 core for ‘RESET’ (Can be sounder circuits or input/output device) Input/output device should be installed within the VA rack enclosure |
| Fire alarm outputs | Enhanced | 1.0 or 1.5 mm 2 core for ‘General Fault’ of the voice alarm |
| Fire microphone(2) | Enhanced | 2 x 1.5 mm 4 core |
| Touch screen microphone(2) | Enhanced | Standard configuration: 2 x 1.5 mm 4 core Refer to user manual if hard wired bypass required and for wall plate connection options |
| BDM paging microphone(2) | N/A | 2 x 1.5 mm 4 core (screened) or 2 x 4 core fire rated enhanced |
| Graphics package (via BVRDTSM) | Enhanced | Standard configuration: 2 x 1.5 mm 4 core Refer to user manual if hard wired bypass required and for wall plate connection options |
| Ambient noise sensor | N/A | 1.5 mm 4 core |
| Network | Enhanced | Copper Network: 4 core Draka FT Data or CAT 5/6 equivalent:Distance parameters for Copper: 64 channels – 100 mFibre Network Multi-mode (64 channel) 2 cores required wired as a loop (SC termination): 62.5/125 – 2 km 50/125 – 2 kmFibre Network Single-mode (64 channel) 2 cores required wired as a loop (SC termination): 9/125 – 4 km |
| BGM inputs | N/A | Any screened 2 core cable |
| Analogue volume controls | N/A | Any screened 2 core cable |
| RPVS digital volume controls | N/A | 2 pair twisted cable or CAT5 |
| RPAIV music select panels | N/A | Any screened 4 core cable |
| Loudspeaker lines | Standard | 1.5 mm 2 core NB: screen continuity required for BEL1 monitoring |
| Monitor loudspeaker | N/A | 1.5 mm 2 core cable NB: if connected to live zone loudspeaker output and physically separated from rack – 2 core standard fire rated should be used |
| Annunciator panel(2) | Enhanced | 2 x 1.5 mm 4 core |
Cable types Key
N/A – Does not require a fire rated cable as this is classed as non-critical. As such a PVC type flex cable would be adequate.
Standard – Fire rated ‘standard’ cable.
Enhanced – Fire rated ‘enhanced’ cable.
Footnotes
(1) – Baldwin Boxall recommends that Enhanced Fire Rated cable should be used where possible for system reliability however please see BS5839-8 Clause 27 for more information regarding standard or enhanced fire rated cabling.
(2) – Audio and RS485 data should not be run in the same cable.
Public Address Systems
| Connection | Fire Rating(1) | Cable Type |
| Speaker cables | N/A | 2 core flex (suitably sized for loudspeaker load) (NB: Screen or third-core required for BEL1 monitoring) |
| BDM or BVRD microphone(2) | N/A | CAT5 or 2 x 4 core screened cables |
| Touch screen microphone(2 & 3) | N/A | 2 x 1.5 mm 4 core screened cables |
| Fire alarm mute | Standard | 2 core (fire rated) |
| Audio inputs for BGM, CD players or MP3 | Any 2 core screened cable | |
| Analogue volume controls | N/A | Any screened 2 core cable |
| RPVS digital volume controls | N/A | 2 pair twisted cable or CAT5 or 4 core screened |
| RPAIV music select panels | N/A | Any screened 4 core cable |
| BT5 & BT8 telephone interfaces | N/A | Audio: Any screened 2 core cable
Zone Access & Busy: Any single / multi core flex |
Cable types Key
N/A – Does not require a fire rated cable as this is classed as non-critical. As such a PVC type flex cable would be adequate.
Standard – Fire rated ‘standard’ cable.
Enhanced – Fire rated ‘enhanced’ cable.
Footnotes
(1) – Baldwin Boxall recommends that Enhanced Fire Rated cable should be used where possible for system reliability however please see BS5839-8 Clause 27 for more information regarding standard or enhanced fire rated cabling.
(2) – Audio and RS485 data should not be run in the same cable.
(3) – Voltage drop should be considered for long runs to touch screen microphone via CAT5 cable.
OmniCare Emergency Voice Communication System
| CONNECTION | FIRE RATING(4) | CABLE TYPE |
| OmniCare loop (disabled refuge & DTA kits) | Standard | 4 core FP run as a loop (size depends on cable length, refer to manual) NB: Maximum 200 m between nodes |
| OmniCare loop (containing fire telephones) | Enhanced | 4 core FP run as a loop (size depends on cable length, refer to manual) NB: Maximum 200 m between nodes |
| Annunciator panel | Enhanced | 3 x 1.5 mm 4 core NB: Install no more that 20 m from OmniCare Console, connect audio signals in separate cable |
| PC/Graphics package interface | Enhanced | 3 x 1.5 mm 4 core NB: Install no more that 20 m from OmniCare Console, connect audio signals in separate cable |
| Fire panel link | Standard | 2 core volt free contact or 2 core sounder circuit NB: Not available with annunciator or graphics package |
| BVOCRIF to DTAKIT | Standard | 2 core 1.5mm Max distance: 500m or 40R |
Cable types Key
Standard – Fire rated ‘standard’ cable.
Enhanced – Fire rated ‘enhanced’ cable.
Footnote
(4) – Baldwin Boxall recommends that Enhanced Fire Rated cable should be used where possible for system reliability however please see BS5839-9 Clause 14 for more information regarding standard or enhanced fire rated cabling.
OmniCarePLUS Emergency Voice Communication System
| CONNECTION | FIRE RATING(4) | CABLE TYPE |
| Control panels & hub network | Enhanced | Copper Network: 1 x 1.5 mm 4 core (fire rated enhanced) wired as a loop. Maximum 300 m.Fibre Network Multi-mode 2 cores required wired as a loop (ST termination): OM1 (62.5/125) – 3 km OM2 (50/125) – 2 km OM3 (50/125) – 2 km Fibre Network Single-mode 2 cores required wired as a loop (ST termination): OS1 (9/125) – 4 km O22 (9/125) – 4 km |
| OmniCare loop (disabled refuge & DTA kits) | Standard | 4 core FP run as a loop (size dependent on cable length, see Omnicare manual) NB: Maximum 200 m between nodes |
| OmniCare loop (containing fire telephones) | Enhanced | 4 core FP run as a loop (size dependent on cable length, see Omnicare manual) NB: Maximum 200 m between nodes |
| PC/Graphics package interface | Enhanced | 2 x CAT5/6 fire rated NB: Install no more that 20 m from Network Hub, ensure audio and data connected in separate cables |
Cable types Key
Standard – Fire rated ‘standard’ cable.
Enhanced – Fire rated ‘enhanced’ cable.
Footnote
(4) – Baldwin Boxall recommends that Enhanced Fire Rated cable should be used where possible for system reliability however please see BS5839-9 Clause 14 for more information regarding standard or enhanced fire rated cabling.
Care2 Emergency Voice Communication System
| CONNECTION | FIRE RATING(4) | CABLE TYPE |
| CARE2 network between panels or NEPs | Enhanced | 2 x 2 core 1.5 mm fire rated enhanced configured as a loop
NB: Maximum distance from any outstation to master console: 5 km. Maximum connection length between consoles: 500 m |
| CARE2 disabled refuge & DTA kits | Standard | 2 core 1.5 mm NB: Maximum distance: 500 m or 40R |
| CARE2 fire telephones and jack sockets | Enhanced | 2 core 1.5 mm NB: Maximum distance to furthest jack socket: 500 m. Maximum distance to fire telephone: 500 m |
| Fire panel link | Standard | 2 core volt free contact or 3 core sounder circuit |
| Remote beacon | N/A | Any 2 core cable |
Cable types Key
N/A – Does not require a fire rated cable as this is classed as non-critical. As such a PVC type flex cable would be adequate.
Standard – Fire rated ‘standard’ cable.
Enhanced – Fire rated ‘enhanced’ cable.
Footnote
(4) – Baldwin Boxall recommends that Enhanced Fire Rated cable should be used where possible for system reliability however please see BS5839-9 Clause 14 for more information regarding standard or enhanced fire rated cabling.