Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Plenum 4-Element (Construction 1) Cables

Summary: Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Plenum 4-Element (Construction 1) Cables

Security & Access Control Multi‑Conductor Composite Plenum 4‑Element (Construction 1) Cables

Windy City Wire supplies SmartWire® low‑voltage composite plenum cables engineered for commercial and industrial access control systems. Our 4‑element composite approach brings lock power and reader/data functions together in one cable to streamline planning, pulling, and termination—helping contractors reduce labor and simplify material management across new construction and retrofit projects.

SmartWire is manufactured in the United States and built for consistent performance on the job. Each composite cable is plenum‑rated for use in air‑handling spaces and designed for clean installations in doors, frames, and risers, supporting devices such as electric locks, strikes, card readers, and panels. With shielding options where you need noise mitigation and flexible stranded conductors for easier routing, these access control cables provide a dependable, B2B‑ready solution for security integrators, electrical contractors, and OEMs.

Why choose SmartWire composite access control cable for your next project

• One‑pull simplicity: Combine power and data/control elements in a single CMP plenum composite to save time and reduce conduit fill.
• Built for security applications: Pair unshielded power with overall‑shielded data pairs to support card readers and controllers in electrically noisy environments.
• Low‑voltage, stranded copper conductors: Flexible handling and reliable terminations in tight door frames and panels.
• SmartWire Glide Technology® cable lubrication: Applied during manufacturing to the cable jacket to reduce pull friction by up to 70% for smoother, faster installations.
• Multiple AWGs in one bundle: 18 AWG for power distribution and 22 AWG pairs for reader/data signaling.
• Plenum‑rated construction: Suitable for air‑handling spaces where CMP performance is required.
• Identification at a glance: Conductor color codes support fast device landing and troubleshooting.
• Available lengths: 1000, 500, and 250 ft selections to match job needs and reduce leftover material.
• Custom jacket and stripe color options available to standardize identification across your organization’s installs.
• Backed by a complete cable and accessories solution purpose‑built for professional low‑voltage security work.

Available shielding and color coding

• Shielding options: Unshielded (UNS) and Overall Aluminum Shield (OAS) to help mitigate EMI/RFI for sensitive data lines.
• Conductor color codes include: Black/Red/White/Green; Black/Red; White/Green; Brown/Blue.

Available constructions

• 18 AWG 4 Conductors Stranded Plenum Low‑Voltage: Unshielded element for delivering power to electric locks and control circuits; flexible, plenum‑rated design supports clean terminations.
• 22 AWG 3 Pairs Stranded OAS Plenum Low‑Voltage: Overall‑shielded twisted pairs for card reader and access control data lines, helping maintain signal integrity in noisy electrical environments.

How this composite adds value

• Reduces total pulls and installation time by combining power and data in a coordinated 4‑element package.
• Helps standardize field wiring across sites with consistent AWG selections and conductor color coding.
• Supports reliable device performance with shielding where it matters and plenum‑rated materials for code compliance.
• Optimizes labor with easier routing and faster pulls using SmartWire Glide Technology lubrication.

When your project demands dependable, low‑voltage security and access control cable, SmartWire composite plenum solutions deliver performance, consistency, and real jobsite efficiencies. Contact Windy City Wire to discuss specifications, length options, and custom color needs for your next rollout.

Solutions: Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Plenum 4-Element (Construction 1) Cables

Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Plenum 4-Element (Construction 1) Cables are purpose-built for door openings and perimeter systems where reliability, code compliance, and installation efficiency matter. These low-voltage security cables combine dedicated power and data elements into a single composite, allowing integrators to pull one cable per opening while supporting electric locks, card readers, request-to-exit devices, and door position monitoring. The plenum-rated construction is suited for use in environmental air spaces and helps standardize installations across diverse facilities.

Why a composite plenum access control cable

• One pull, complete opening: A single composite cable supports the typical circuits at a door: lock power, reader data, and auxiliary I/O, reducing labor and minimizing conduit fill.
• Matched to security workloads: The design blends 18 AWG conductors for dependable lock power with 22 AWG shielded pairs for card-reader and controller communications, balancing voltage drop concerns with signal integrity.
• Shielded where it counts: Overall aluminum/polyester shielding (OAS) on data pairs helps mitigate EMI/RFI for protocols like Wiegand and OSDP (RS-485), while unshielded power conductors deliver clean current to strikes, mag locks, and smart lock controllers.
• Stranded conductors for field work: Flexible, stranded copper makes routing and terminations easier at tight door frames, mullions, and controller enclosures.
• Plenum-rated jacket: Suitable for installations in return-air plenums and ceiling spaces where building codes require plenum security cable.
• Clear identification: Distinct conductor color coding streamlines terminations and speeds troubleshooting during commissioning and service calls.
• Right-sized reels for projects: Available in 1000, 500, and 250 ft lengths to match run distances and help reduce scrap on multi-opening deployments.

Supported devices and circuits

• Electrified locking hardware: Magnetic locks, electric strikes, mortise/cylindrical locksets, door operators, and gate/barrier controls
• Credential readers and keypads: Proximity, smart card, mobile BLE/NFC, PIN pads, biometric readers; Wiegand and OSDP/RS‑485 signaling
• Sensors and door I/O: Door position switches (DPS), request-to-exit (REX) sensors, egress buttons, tamper/aux relays
• Access control panels and controllers: Distributed door controllers, power supplies, I/O modules, and networked edge devices
• Elevator and turnstile interfaces: Control signals and reader connections for floors, turnstiles, mantraps, and secure vestibules

Where these access control cables fit best

• Commercial offices and campuses: Standardize door access control wiring across multiple buildings and tenant improvements.
• Healthcare: Secure pharmacies, labs, patient areas, and restricted corridors with plenum-rated security cable approved for air-handling spaces.
• Education: Classrooms, residence halls, and athletic facilities with centralized or edge-based door controllers.
• Industrial and logistics: Warehouse doors, secure cages, and dock/gate access where long runs and noise environments benefit from shielded data pairs.
• Retail and hospitality: Back-of-house access, POS rooms, and staff-only areas with mixed reader/keypad configurations.
• Government and public safety: Controlled entries, evidence rooms, and SCIF perimeters requiring dependable low-voltage security cable.
• Transportation and critical infrastructure: Terminals, data centers, utilities, and control rooms with stringent wiring standards.

Integration across building systems

• Video surveillance and VMS: Door events tied to cameras for forensic search and alarms.
• Intrusion detection: Shared contacts and relay outputs to arm/disarm or trigger responses.
• Building automation (BAS/BMS): Door status and schedules aligned with HVAC, occupancy, and energy controls.
• Visitor management and time & attendance: Reader wiring supports credentialing and audit trails.
• Emergency and mass notification: Priority egress and fail-safe hardware powered and signaled over dedicated conductors.

Design and installation advantages

• Composite efficiency: Pulling one multi-conductor cable per opening reduces labor, terminations, and chance of mis-pulls versus running separate singles.
• Signal performance: Shielded 22 AWG data pairs help preserve reader and controller communication in electrically noisy environments.
• Power headroom: 18 AWG conductors help manage voltage drop for longer runs to strikes, mag locks, and door controllers.
• Color-coded conductors: Clear identification accelerates panel landing and field device terminations, improving serviceability over the life of the system.
• Flexible run planning: Choose from 1000, 500, or 250 ft reels to fit floor-by-floor, wing-by-wing, or phased deployments.

Common wiring approach at a door opening

1. Use the 18 AWG conductors for lock power and auxiliary power-limited circuits per the access control power supply.
2. Reserve the shielded 22 AWG pairs for reader data (Wiegand or OSDP/RS‑485), plus REX and DPS signals as required by the controller I/O.
3. Maintain pair twists to the termination point and bond/drain shields as recommended by the controller and reader manufacturers.
4. Follow NEC Article 725 and local AHJ requirements for power-limited security circuits in plenum and non-plenum spaces.

When to choose this security cable

• You need a plenum-rated access control cable that covers lock power, reader data, and door I/O in one pull.
• Your project mixes shielded data circuits and unshielded power in the same pathway and demands clean separation within a composite.
• You are standardizing on a multi-conductor composite cable to simplify BOMs, submittals, and field practices across sites.

For takeoffs, submittals, and help selecting the right security & access control composite plenum cable for your door hardware and controllers, contact Windy City Wire. Our team supports design, budgeting, and deployment planning for commercial and industrial environments.

Frequently Asked Questions: Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Plenum 4-Element (Construction 1) Cables

• What AWG conductors are available with this SmartWire Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Plenum 4-Element (Construction 1) Cables cable?

  18 AWG and 22 AWG. This composite plenum construction combines 18 AWG unshielded stranded conductors (typically for lock power) with 22 AWG shielded (OAS) stranded data pairs.

• What other colors is this SmartWire Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Plenum 4-Element (Construction 1) Cables cable available in?

  Available conductor color codes include: Black/Red/White/Green; Black/Red; White/Green; Brown/Blue. Custom SmartWire jacket and stripe color combinations can also be produced to standardize your installations—contact Windy City Wire for details.

• Is this SmartWire Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Plenum 4-Element (Construction 1) Cables cable made with solid or stranded copper conductors?

  Stranded copper conductors. Both the unshielded 18 AWG and the shielded 22 AWG elements use stranded copper for flexibility and reliable terminations.

• What length is this SmartWire Security & Access Control Multi-Conductor Composite Plenum 4-Element (Construction 1) Cables cable sold in?

  At Windy City Wire, we manufacture and stock SmartWire Security & Access Control cable in a standard 1,000 ft length. Additional available lengths include 500 ft and 250 ft.

• What are some distinctions between BAC NET, RS232 and RS485 Cables?

  BACnet (MS/TP) typically runs over twisted, shielded balanced pairs similar to RS‑485 and benefits from 120‑ohm, low-capacitance cable for longer multi‑drop runs on building controls. RS‑232 is an unbalanced, point‑to‑point serial interface that usually uses a few conductors (Tx/Rx/GND), works over short distances, and does not require a twisted balanced pair. RS‑485 is a balanced differential standard that uses one or two twisted pairs (often shielded), supports multi‑drop networks, and reaches much longer distances at higher noise immunity compared to RS‑232.

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