Alarm & Security Cable — BS 4737 / EN 50131 Multi-Core Screened and Unscreened PVC/LSZH Insulated and Sheathed Flexible Cable for Intruder Alarm, Burglar Alarm, Access Control, CCTV Power and Signal, and Building Security System Wiring at 300/500 V
Industrial, Mining & Control Cables /Alarm & Security Cable

Alarm & Security Cable — BS 4737 / EN 50131 Multi-Core Screened and Unscreened PVC/LSZH Insulated and Sheathed Flexible Cable for Intruder Alarm, Burglar Alarm, Access Control, CCTV Power and Signal, and Building Security System Wiring at 300/500 V

Alarm & security cable: BS 4737 / EN 50131 multi-core, screened or unscreened, PVC or LSZH insulated and sheathed, 300/500V. 2-12 cores, 0.22-1.5 mm². For intruder alarm, burglar alarm, access control, PIR sensors, door contacts, alarm panel connections. Flame retardant. CE, RoHS.

Key Features

BS 4737 / EN 50131 compliant — the UK and European standards for intruder alarm system components and installation; the cable is designed for the specific requirements of security systems: low-voltage DC circuits (typically 12 V), multiple detector and sensor connections on a single multi-core cable, and immunity to false alarms from electrical noise and cable faults
Multi-core construction, 2–12 cores, 0.22–1.5 mm² — each core is a separately insulated conductor; adjacent cores in the same cable carry the normally-closed alarm loop, the tamper loop, and the detector power supply; the multi-core cable allows a single cable run from the alarm panel to each detector location, carrying all required circuits
Screened (overall aluminum/polyester foil + tinned copper drain wire) or unscreened — screened cable for alarm installations where the cable route shares a cable tray or conduit with power cables (EMI protection) and for installations where the alarm system specification requires a continuous screen for false alarm immunity; unscreened for dedicated alarm cable routes with no EMI risk
Stranded bare copper or tinned copper conductor, IEC 60228 Class 2 or Class 5 — stranded for the routing flexibility required when wiring detectors and sensors at multiple locations around the building perimeter, in ceiling voids, and through door frames and window reveals
PVC or LSZH insulation and sheath — PVC for standard commercial and residential alarm installations; LSZH for public buildings, schools, hospitals, and any installation where the fire safety policy requires halogen-free and low-smoke cable in escape routes and public areas
Colour-coded cores per the alarm industry standard — typically red, black, yellow, blue, green, white for the first 6 cores, with colour repeats for higher core counts; standard colour coding speeds up installation and fault-finding compared to numbered cores
Compact overall diameter for concealed installation — the thin insulation wall and compact core assembly produce a small cable OD that is easily concealed in door frames, window reveals, skirting boards, and surface-mounted mini-trunking used in alarm installations
Flame retardant to IEC 60332-1-2 — the cable self-extinguishes; in a building fire, the alarm system cable should not contribute to fire propagation along its route through ceiling voids, riser shafts, and escape routes

Applications

Intruder alarm detector circuits — 6-core or 8-core cable from the alarm control panel to each PIR (passive infrared) detector, dual-tech detector, or door contact; the cores carry +12 V DC supply, alarm loop (normally closed), tamper loop (normally closed), and spare for future functionsAlarm control panel to remote keypad — 4-core or 6-core screened cable for the data communication between the alarm panel and the remote keypad; the screened construction protects the data signal from electrical noise that could corrupt keypad communication and cause false alarms or prevent arm/disarm commandsAccess control system wiring — multi-core cable from the access control panel to the door controller, card reader, electric lock, door position sensor, and request-to-exit button; a typical door installation requires 6–12 coresCCTV camera power and signal — 3-core (power + video coax) or multi-core cable for analog CCTV camera connections carrying 12 V DC power and composite video; the screened multi-core cable prevents AC hum and electrical noise from corrupting the video signalBuilding management and security integration — multi-core cable for connecting the intruder alarm panel to the building management system (BMS) for alarm event reporting, and to the fire alarm panel for alarm system shutdown during a fire alarmPanic alarm and hold-up device wiring — 2-core or 4-core cable for panic buttons, hold-up alarms, and personal attack devices in retail counters, bank teller positions, and reception desksExternal bell box and sounder wiring — 4-core or 6-core cable from the alarm panel to the external sounder/strobe unit; the cores carry the bell trigger, strobe trigger, tamper return, and power supply for the sounder's backup battery charging

Technical Specifications

Standard — Alarm System BS 4737 (Intruder alarm systems in buildings — superseded by BS EN 50131 but still widely referenced for alarm cable specification); BS EN 50131-1 (Alarm systems — intruder and hold-up systems — system requirements); the cable must be compatible with the alarm system's electrical interface — typically 12 V DC, normally-closed loops with end-of-line (EOL) resistors
Standard — Cable Construction BS 4737-3.30 (Specification for interconnecting cables for intruder alarm systems — the definitive UK standard for alarm cable construction); also manufactured to general multi-core control cable standards (IEC 60227, BS 7629 for screened types)
Rated Voltage (U₀/U) 300/500 V AC (the standard low voltage rating for building control and signal cables; the alarm system operates at 12–24 V DC, but the cable is rated for the mains voltage class to ensure insulation safety in the event of accidental contact with mains voltage in shared cable routes)
Conductor Material Bare copper (standard); tinned copper (for installations in humid environments or where the cable may be exposed to condensation in ceiling voids); IEC 60228 Class 2 stranded (standard) or Class 5 flexible (for easier routing in confined spaces)
Conductor Cross-Sections 0.22, 0.34, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5 mm²
Core Count — Standard 2-core; 3-core; 4-core; 6-core; 8-core; 12-core
Core Count — Typical Alarm Installations 6-core (standard PIR detector connection: 2 cores for 12 V DC supply + 2 cores for alarm loop + 2 cores for tamper loop); 8-core (additional spare cores for future functions, dual-technology detectors requiring separate alarm and microwave circuits, or combined detector + sounder connections)
Core Insulation — PVC PVC type TI1 per IEC 60227; 70°C; thin-wall insulation (0.2–0.4 mm) for compact cable OD — alarm cable is not a power cable and the insulation thickness reflects the low operating voltage and current
Core Insulation — LSZH LSZH compound; 70°C; for public buildings and installations where the fire safety policy specifies halogen-free cable throughout
Core Identification — 6-Core (Typical) Red, black, yellow, blue, green, white; the standard alarm industry colour code — colour-coded cores speed up installation compared to numbered cores because the installer can identify the core by colour at a glance without referring to a core numbering chart
Core Assembly The insulated cores are twisted or concentrically stranded with a controlled lay length; for 2–4 cores, the cores are twisted in a simple lay; for 6–12 cores, concentric stranding is used with a central filler or core; no separate filler elements are required — the compact core packing is sufficient for cable circularity
Binder Tape Polyester tape wrap over the core assembly; provides mechanical stability for the overall screen application
Overall Screen — Screened Type Aluminum/polyester foil (100% coverage, aluminum side in contact with the drain wire) + tinned copper drain wire (0.5 mm², 7-strand); the foil provides 100% high-frequency shielding; the drain wire provides a low-impedance termination point for the screen at the alarm panel and junction boxes
Overall Screen — Unscreened Type No screen; for dedicated alarm cable routes with no EMI risk and where the cost saving is significant over large cable quantities in multi-detector installations
Outer Sheath — PVC PVC type ST5 (flexible); white or grey (standard alarm cable colours — white for domestic and light commercial, grey for commercial and industrial); the thin PVC sheath (0.4–0.8 mm) maintains the compact cable OD while providing sufficient mechanical protection for the indoor installation environment
Outer Sheath — LSZH LSZH compound; white or grey; for public buildings and installations where halogen-free cable is specified
Maximum DC Conductor Resistance at 20°C Per IEC 60228 for the conductor class and cross-section; 89.2 Ω/km (0.22 mm²) to 12.1 Ω/km (1.5 mm²); the resistance determines the maximum cable length for the alarm loop — the total loop resistance (cable + end-of-line resistor) must remain within the alarm panel's detection window
Insulation Resistance at 20°C — PVC ≥10 MΩ·km (core-to-core at 500 V DC, 1 min)
Test Voltage (AC) — Routine 2 000 V AC / 5 min (core-to-core, core-to-screen); the test voltage is substantially higher than the 12 V DC operating voltage to verify the insulation integrity
Temperature — Continuous (Fixed Installation) -15°C to +70°C (PVC); the cable is installed in building interior spaces (ceiling voids, wall cavities, surface trunking) where the temperature is within this range
Temperature — Installation (Minimum) 0°C (PVC becomes brittle below this temperature; do not install PVC alarm cable in unheated buildings during winter without pre-warming the cable)
Minimum Bend Radius — During Installation 6× cable OD (stranded conductor); 4× cable OD (fixed routing after installation); the small cable OD (typically 4–8 mm for a 6-core cable) allows tight bends in the confined spaces of door frames, window reveals, and surface trunking
Current Rating — Alarm Circuits (12 V DC, Typical) Alarm system detectors and devices draw very low current (10–50 mA per detector at 12 V DC); the cable cross-section (typically 0.22 mm² or 0.5 mm²) is not the limiting factor for current — the voltage drop over long cable runs to the detectors at the far end of the building determines the minimum cross-section
Voltage Drop — 12 V DC Alarm Circuit (Example) For a detector at the end of a 100 m cable run (200 m total circuit length), supplied at 12 V, drawing 50 mA: 0.22 mm² cable has a one-way resistance of 8.92 Ω (89.2 Ω/km × 0.1 km); total circuit resistance = 17.84 Ω; voltage drop = 0.05 A × 17.84 Ω = 0.89 V (7.4%); the detector's minimum operating voltage is typically 9 V — the 0.22 mm² cable supports this detector run length; for longer runs or higher current detectors, 0.5 mm² or 0.75 mm² cable is specified
Flame Retardant — PVC IEC 60332-1-2 (single cable); the PVC sheath is inherently flame-retardant; the thin wall and small cable mass produce minimal fuel load in a fire
Certifications CE; RoHS; BS 4737 compliance declaration; ISO 9001 manufactured

Detailed Description

What Is Alarm & Security Cable?

Alarm and security cable is a multi-core, low-voltage (300/500 V rated) cable designed specifically for the wiring of intruder alarm systems, burglar alarms, and associated building security equipment — PIR detectors, door contacts, glass break sensors, alarm keypads, and external sounders. It is the cable that a security system installer pulls through ceiling voids, down wall cavities, and along skirting boards to connect every detector and device back to the central alarm control panel.

The cable is defined by its core count (the number of separately insulated conductors in one cable) and the alarm industry's standard wiring topology: a multi-core cable carries all the circuits required for a single detector location in one cable run — the +12 V DC supply (2 cores), the normally-closed alarm loop (2 cores), and the normally-closed tamper loop (2 cores) — six cores in total. The installer runs a single 6-core cable from the alarm panel distribution point to each detector, connects the relevant cores to the detector terminals and the junction box terminals, and the detector is wired. This is simpler, cleaner, and more reliable than running three separate 2-core cables to each detector.

6-Core vs 8-Core — The Standard Alarm Cable Configurations

Core CountTypical UsageCores and Functions
2-coreSimple magnetic door contacts with no tamper1 pair: alarm loop (normally closed)
4-coreDoor contacts with tamper, panic buttons1 pair: alarm loop + 1 pair: tamper loop
6-coreStandard PIR detector connection1 pair: +12 V DC supply + 1 pair: alarm loop + 1 pair: tamper loop
8-coreDual-tech detectors (PIR + microwave), detectors with onboard sounders, or spare capacity2 pairs: alarm circuits (PIR and microwave) + 1 pair: tamper + 1 pair: 12 V DC supply
12-coreCombined detector, sounder, and access control at one locationMultiple alarm, tamper, power, and data circuits

6-core is the standard for residential and light commercial alarm installations — every PIR detector receives a 6-core cable from the alarm panel. 8-core is specified for higher-specification installations where dual-technology detectors are used (requiring separate alarm circuits for the PIR and microwave elements) or where detectors incorporate onboard sounders or strobes (requiring additional cores for the sounder trigger and 12 V supply).

Why Choose Yichi Alarm & Security Cables

  • BS 4737 / EN 50131 compatible — the correct cable for alarm systems: The cable's conductor cross-section, core count, voltage rating, and screening options are designed for the electrical requirements of intruder alarm systems per the UK and European standards. The end-of-line resistor values, the loop resistance limits, and the tamper circuit requirements are accounted for in the cable's electrical specification
  • Screened or unscreened — select for the installation's EMI environment: Screened cable (overall aluminum/polyester foil + drain wire) for alarm installations where the cable route shares a tray or conduit with mains power cables, or where the alarm system specification requires a continuous screen from the panel to each detector for false alarm immunity. Unscreened for dedicated alarm cable routes — lower cost and easier termination
  • Industry-standard colour coding — red, black, yellow, blue, green, white: The 6-core colour code that alarm installers expect. No need to consult a core numbering chart or meter-out each core — the colour tells the installer the core's function at a glance. Standard colour coding reduces wiring errors and speeds up installation and commissioning
  • PVC or LSZH — select for the building's fire safety requirements: Standard PVC for commercial and residential installations; LSZH for public buildings, schools, hospitals, and any installation where the fire safety policy requires halogen-free cable in escape routes. Both options manufactured with the same core configuration, colour coding, and electrical performance
  • Compact OD for concealed installation: The thin-wall insulation and compact core assembly produce the small cable diameter that alarm installers need to conceal the cable in door frames, window reveals, skirting boards, and surface mini-trunking. The cable is designed to be hidden — its primary installation environment is inside the building fabric

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Product: Alarm & Security Cable — BS 4737 / EN 50131 Multi-Core Screened and Unscreened PVC/LSZH Insulated and Sheathed Flexible Cable for Intruder Alarm, Burglar Alarm, Access Control, CCTV Power and Signal, and Building Security System Wiring at 300/500 V

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