Interesting new cable spotted - copper alarm wire?

[ishiboo]

I saw some interesting cable on a new $108 million building yesterday. Sitting in the cable ladders it appeared to be solid #4 copper, but upon close inspection it was a fire alarm cable with a copper or copper-clad jacket. I poked it with my finger and it was very rigid.

I assume it gives a 2 hour fire rating without using EMT. I also assume it's insanely expensive. Sure did look cool though.

Any ideas who makes it?

 

[ishiboo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral-insulated_copper-clad_cable

Interesting! It did not have a PVC jacket but shiny copper though

 

[malibu101]

Yep, as said, it's MI cable. Mineral Insulated.

Often used to wire from a generator to the fire pump in commercial buildings. Where the power must get through no matter what is happening.

The amount of heat/fire it can withstand is probably the highest out there.
I have only ever seen it as shiny copper. Never jacketed.
The box connectors are not cheap either.

 

[Grinder Bill]

MI is used extensively in outdoor oil & gas process applications, as heat trace cable. The splice kit is $600...

http://www.chromalox.com/productcat...al+Insulated+Cable/product-details.aspx?p=292

 

[plow]

Any way you could get a sample of it? Say a foot long. I would gladly pay shipping.



FWIW, I'm in the fire protection biz. I've never seen or heard of this stuff. Then again, Louisiana aint known for being on the cutting edge of anything. PM me if you can get a piece. Thanks.

 

[CNGsaves]

So this stuff was in the World Trade Centers ?? Would these wires have ensured that fire suppression water sprinklers were fully engaged and pouring water on all the upper floors of WTC 2 and WTC 1 ???

 

[frankush]

Even though it's known as MI cable it's a lot more ridged than any other cable. The stuff is very hard and we usually use a 1/2" bender to make smooth bends. Every installation I've done has been to feed fire pumps. The other option is concrete encased rigid pipe and that has to meet a certain fire rating, so lots of concrete. The MI install is usually cheaper. All fire pump installs have super high overcurrent protection. The intent is to keep the pump running no matter what. A running pump might save the building and lives. It's cheaper to replace a damaged fire pump than the building.

It's very possible and likely that it was in the WTC's. Just because the pump is running doesn't mean that the water was where it was needed. Take out a sprinkler feeder or riser and it's over. I'm sure they had quite a few fire pumps in those buildings. Code probably dictates the number of floors and/or maximum square footage that any one pump can cover.

 

[Scott r c]

So this stuff was in the World Trade Centers ?? Would these wires have ensured that fire suppression water sprinklers were fully engaged and pouring water on all the upper floors of WTC 2 and WTC 1 ???

Your guys that wired the buildings to explode, also cut these cables.

koo-koo, koo-koo

 

[rockwithjason]

So this stuff was in the World Trade Centers ?? Would these wires have ensured that fire suppression water sprinklers were fully engaged and pouring water on all the upper floors of WTC 2 and WTC 1 ???

Nothing is sure when a 747 plows into it.

 

[Rock knocker]

So this stuff was in the World Trade Centers ?? Would these wires have ensured that fire suppression water sprinklers were fully engaged and pouring water on all the upper floors of WTC 2 and WTC 1 ???

I think the pipes were severed by the planes fuselage.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

FWIW, I'm in the fire protection biz. I've never seen or heard of this stuff. Then again, Louisiana aint known for being on the cutting edge of anything.

Wouldn't it be more profitable to be in the flood protection business down there?

J.K.

Tommy

 

[CNGsaves]

I think the pipes were severed by the planes fuselage.

Maybe the drink cart had lots of aluminum cans still in there, and THOSE aluminum cans severed all the fire supression water pipes (and control wires like these MI's) that were ran up the concrete elevator shaft ???

OP thanks for sharing information on innovative wire.

 

[Rock knocker]

Maybe the drink cart had lots of aluminum cans still in there, and THOSE aluminum cans severed all the fire supression water pipes (and control wires like these MI's) that were ran up the concrete elevator shaft ???

Makes no sense

 

[Rock knocker]

FWIW, I'm in the fire protection biz. I've never seen or heard of this stuff. Then again, Louisiana aint known for being on the cutting edge of anything. PM me if you can get a piece. Thanks.

I think it's on the sparky

 

[ishiboo]

Any way you could get a sample of it? Say a foot long. I would gladly pay shipping.



FWIW, I'm in the fire protection biz. I've never seen or heard of this stuff. Then again, Louisiana aint known for being on the cutting edge of anything. PM me if you can get a piece. Thanks.

Unfortunately, they are well past installing it so I don't think there is any around. It's very interesting, it looks just like a solid piece of copper or drawn copper tube... but it has printing on it. Looked really odd in a ladder rack!

I'm getting a price quote for a 1000' spool. I am just curious but I bet it is shocking.

 

[big.jim]

mi or mineral insulated isnt cutting edge at all ,does have a very high heat threshold , if it gets damp inside you have to dry it out usually using a blowtorch ,last time i installed any was 35 years ago around my parents greenhouse and garage, think i still have some lying around dont know what the shipping would be though even on a small piece,it used to be used instead of armor cable or conduit a lot in industrial buildings now for fire protection we use fp200 which doesnt have the same termination issues and has an aluminium sheath

 

[aaronjlee]

very cool info guys. thanks for sharing!

 

[walrus]

I've used it in the gasoline world. its quick and easy but very expensive. Can't imagine using it in a high rise

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I wonder what the cost is?

 

[sickjuice]

I saw some interesting cable on a new $108 million building yesterday. Sitting in the cable ladders it appeared to be solid #4 copper, but upon close inspection it was a fire alarm cable with a copper or copper-clad jacket. I poked it with my finger and it was very rigid.

I assume it gives a 2 hour fire rating without using EMT. I also assume it's insanely expensive. Sure did look cool though.

Any ideas who makes it?

EMT? 2 hour fire rating?

No

lol