Security & Access Control Shielded Cables

Summary: Security & Access Control Shielded Cables

Security & Access Control Shielded Cables

Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire low-voltage security and access control cable for commercial and industrial projects where clean signal transmission, code compliance, and jobsite efficiency matter. Our shielded constructions help reduce noise and crosstalk for devices such as card readers, door controllers, REX sensors, maglocks, intrusion panels, and building automation controls. Plenum (CMP/CL3P) and non-plenum (CMR) options, multiple conductor counts, and a broad AWG range (14, 16, 18, 20, 22 AWG) allow you to standardize across facilities and match the right cable to each run length and load requirement.

SmartWire cable is manufactured in the United States and comes standard with SmartWire Glide lubrication applied to the jacket during manufacturing. This lubrication reduces friction during pulls by up to 70%, helping crews work faster with fewer re-pulls—especially in long conduit runs and congested pathways. Standard color codes are available for clear termination and device identification, and we also offer custom jacket and stripe color options to support company standards and simplify service work across jobsites.

Why security and access control contractors choose Windy City Wire

• Shielding options to match your environment: overall aluminum foil (O/A) for general EMI/RFI reduction, individually shielded pairs for sensitive data/control circuits, and braid/OAS combinations where additional coverage is needed.
• Plenum and riser-rated solutions for code-compliant installation in air spaces and vertical shafts.
• Wide selection of gauges and conductor counts to cover readers, sensors, auxiliary outputs, and power-limited control circuits on a single platform.
• SmartWire Glide lubrication included at no additional cost to reduce pull force and speed up installation.
• Standardized color codes and optional custom jacket/stripe colors to make device identification and maintenance straightforward across large campuses.
• Lengths: standard 1000 FT, with select items also available in 500 FT to match job needs and minimize leftover material.

Value summary

When you choose Windy City Wire for security and access control cable, you get a U.S.-manufactured product line designed specifically for low-voltage installations, with shielding and ratings aligned to common building environments. Our breadth of constructions helps you specify one source across access control, intrusion, and controls, while SmartWire Glide lubrication and thoughtful color coding support faster, cleaner installs and easier service. Work with our team to standardize on constructions that improve consistency, reduce labor hours, and support reliable system performance on every project.

Available constructions

• 14 AWG 2 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CL3P/CMP): Heavier-gauge, shielded control cable for longer runs and power-limited door hardware or panel connections in plenum spaces.
• 16 AWG 2 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Balanced option for locking hardware power and controller feeds where additional current capacity is required.
• 16 AWG 4 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Combines power and auxiliary signals in a single pull for multi-function devices in air-handling spaces.
• 18 AWG 1 Pair Tinned Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): O/A foil shielded twisted pair well-suited for RS-485 and building controls; commonly used in HVAC and automation networks.
• 18 AWG 2 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): A go-to reader/sensor cable for access control with improved noise immunity from the overall foil shield.
• 18 AWG 3 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Adds a third conductor for LED/buzzer returns or auxiliary functions while maintaining plenum compliance.
• 18 AWG 4 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Supports combined reader, door contact, and REX runs to reduce total pulls and terminations.
• 18 AWG 5 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Extra conductors for multi-function readers and devices that require additional IO lines.
• 18 AWG 6 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Offers room for expansion and auxiliary signaling on panel home-runs in plenum areas.
• 18 AWG 8 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Higher conductor count for complex doors and controller terminations in a single cable.
• 18 AWG 10 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Streamlines dense IO applications by consolidating multiple signals with overall shielding.
• 18 AWG 12 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Maximizes conductors per pull to simplify panel wiring and reduce pathway congestion.
• 18 AWG 2 Pair Bare Copper, Individually Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Each pair is isolated to minimize crosstalk on sensitive control or data lines.
• 18 AWG 3 Pair Bare Copper, Each Pair Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Multi-pair construction for readers and controls that benefit from per-pair shielding.
• 20 AWG 2 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Smaller OD and good flexibility for readers, sensors, and short control runs.
• 20 AWG 3 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Adds an extra conductor for auxiliary signaling while maintaining low capacitance.
• 20 AWG 4 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Combines power-limited control and signaling where a compact diameter is helpful.
• 22 AWG 2 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): A common choice for Wiegand, door contacts, and low-current sensors with O/A foil for noise rejection.
• 22 AWG 3 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Adds flexibility for device LED/buzzer returns or spare conductors.
• 22 AWG 4 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Popular for keypads and multi-signal reader terminations with a single cable.
• 22 AWG 6 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Supports expanded IO while keeping pathways tidy and compliant.
• 22 AWG 8 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Higher conductor count for complex door packages and controller wiring.
• 22 AWG 12 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Consolidates extensive control points to reduce the number of pulls.
• 22 AWG 2 Pair Bare Copper, Individually Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Per-pair shielding for low-crosstalk signaling in demanding environments.
• 22 AWG 3 Pair Bare Copper, Individually Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): A fit for multi-channel control circuits that require pair isolation.
• 22 AWG 3 Pair Bare Copper, Shielded Plenum, 300V (CMP): Overall shielded multi-pair bundle for access and control applications.
• 16 AWG 2 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Non-Plenum, 300V (CMR): Riser-rated option for power-limited hardware where increased current capacity is needed.
• 18 AWG 2 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Non-Plenum, 300V (CMR): Versatile reader and sensor cable for non-plenum pathways.
• 18 AWG 3 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Non-Plenum, 300V (CMR): Adds a spare or auxiliary conductor for device signaling.
• 18 AWG 4 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Non-Plenum, 300V (CMR): Combines multiple device functions to reduce separate pulls.
• 18 AWG 6 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Non-Plenum, 300V (CMR): Higher conductor count for panel home-runs without plenum requirements.
• 18 AWG 8 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Non-Plenum, 300V (CMR): Consolidates complex openings and controller wiring in riser spaces.
• 22 AWG 2 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Non-Plenum, 300V (CMR): Common control/sensor cable with overall shield for EMI reduction in risers.
• 22 AWG 4 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Non-Plenum, 300V (CMR): Supports keypads and multi-signal reader terminations in non-plenum routes.
• 22 AWG 6 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Non-Plenum, 300V (CMR): Added capacity for auxiliary signaling and future expansion.
• 22 AWG 8 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Non-Plenum, 300V (CMR): Efficient for larger IO sets and consolidated panel terminations.
• 22 AWG 12 Conductor Bare Copper, Shielded Non-Plenum, 300V (CMR): Maximizes conductors per pathway to minimize installation time.
• 22 AWG 2 Pair Bare Copper, Individually Shielded Non-Plenum, 300V (CMR): Per-pair shielding for low-crosstalk control channels in riser spaces.
• 22 AWG 3 Pair Bare Copper, Shielded Non-Plenum, 300V (CMR): Overall-shielded multi-pair bundle for access and general control circuits.
• Type RG 59/U 20 AWG Solid Bare Copper, Shielded Non-Plenum, 300V: O/A foil plus 95% tinned copper braid for CCTV and serial digital video in security applications.

Color coding and identification

• Common conductor color codes include combinations such as Black/White, Black/Red, Black-Red/White-Green, Black/White/Red/Green, and expanded sets for 6, 8, and 12 conductor constructions.
• Custom jacket and stripe color options are available to standardize your installations and speed up service identification across sites.

Ready to build a consistent, code-compliant cable standard for your access control and security portfolio? Contact Windy City Wire to review specifications, select constructions, and configure SmartWire solutions that align with your deployment plan.

Solutions: Security & Access Control Shielded Cables

Security & Access Control Shielded Cables for Commercial and Industrial Projects

Windy City Wire provides a full range of low-voltage security cable engineered for access control, intrusion detection, video, intercom, and building automation environments. Our shielded constructions help maintain signal integrity in electrically noisy facilities, support long runs across campuses and high-rises, and streamline terminations for professional integrators, electrical contractors, and security system installers.

Where these cables are used

• Electronic access control: Card readers (Wiegand and OSDP over RS-485), REX devices, door contacts, request-to-exit sensors, door strikes and mag locks, controller-to-door interface wiring, and power transfer connections.
• Intrusion detection: PIRs, glassbreaks, perimeter sensors, beam detectors, panic devices, and zone loops requiring shielded cable for noise immunity.
• Video and intercom: CCTV and HD-SDI runs using RG59/U, PTZ control over RS-485, and door stations/voce intercom where crosstalk control is important.
• Building automation and HVAC controls: BAS controller buses (BACnet MS/TP, Modbus RTU, and OEM protocols), terminal unit controls, and OEM-specific applications such as Trane Comm3/Comm4 links where shielded plenum cable is often specified.
• Elevator, parking, and perimeter systems: Control and signaling between panels, gates, call stations, and sensors in high-interference areas.

Industries and environments

• Corporate campuses, high-rise commercial office, data centers
• Healthcare and laboratories (EMI-sensitive spaces)
• Education: K–12 through higher education, stadiums, and arenas
• Industrial plants, food processing, logistics and distribution, utilities
• Retail, hospitality, multi-family, public sector, and transportation hubs

Key cable constructions and how to choose

• Gauge options (14–22 AWG plus 20 AWG coax):
  • 14–16 AWG: Higher current devices and longer runs (e.g., mag locks, strikes, and power feeds) where voltage drop must be minimized.
  • 18 AWG: Common choice for controller-to-door hardware and general security cabling.
  • 22 AWG: Readers, sensors, and data signaling where flexibility and easier termination are priorities.
  • 20 AWG RG59/U: Video backbones for CCTV and HD-SDI over coax where a foil plus high-coverage braid supports low loss and reliable shielding.
• Conductor counts to match the device: From 2 to 12 conductors, plus multi-pair options (2-pair, 3-pair) to support power, data, and supervision in a single pull, reducing labor and homeruns.
• Shielding choices for noise control:
  • Overall foil shield (OAS): Excellent for typical access control cable runs to reduce EMI/RFI from VFDs, lighting, and motors.
  • Each-pair shielded (EPS)/Individually shielded pairs: Added isolation for RS-485, reader data, and other low-level signals sensitive to crosstalk.
  • Foil + braid (video): For RG59/U, a 95% tinned copper braid over foil supports superior coverage for serial digital video and legacy analog CCTV.
• Jacket ratings for code compliance:
  • Plenum-rated (CMP and CL3P): For air-handling spaces and return air plenums in commercial construction.
  • Riser-rated (CMR): For vertical shafts and general non-plenum areas to meet riser fire spread requirements.
• Length options: Standard 1000 ft and select 500 ft lengths available to match project needs and reduce waste.
• RoHS compliant materials: Lead-free constructions to support environmental and health standards.

Typical system wiring examples

• Door readers: 22 AWG 2C/4C shielded for Wiegand or OSDP reader data plus LED/buzzer lines; choose individually shielded pairs when reader data must be isolated from power or supervision conductors.
• Mag locks and strikes: 16–18 AWG 2C shielded to carry device current while minimizing voltage drop; shielding helps mitigate relay coil noise and nearby VFD interference.
• Rex and contacts: 22 AWG 2C shielded for clean signaling to the controller, limits false alarms from induced noise.
• Controller interconnects and RS-485 buses: 18–22 AWG 1-pair or 2-pair shielded for BACnet MS/TP, Modbus RTU, and OEM control buses; each-pair shielded constructions improve signal separation.
• CCTV and serial digital video: Type RG59/U with foil and high-coverage braid for video feeds, plus a companion shielded control pair where PTZ or telemetry is required.
• Trane Comm3/Comm4: Shielded plenum 1-pair options and select color jackets to support specification clarity in BAS deployments.

Integration considerations

• Noise and grounding: Use shielded cable with a defined drain to shunt interference to ground. Individually shielded pairs help when mixing data and power in the same sheath.
• Run length and voltage drop: Size conductors (14–22 AWG) based on lock/strike current and total distance. Larger gauge reduces drop for reliable actuation.
• Code compliance: Select plenum-rated (CMP/CL3P) or riser-rated (CMR) constructions to match the space type. Verify local requirements for security cable versus life-safety fire alarm cable.
• Future flexibility: Multi-conductor and multi-pair cables simplify adds, moves, and changes by providing spare conductors for future devices or functions.

Why shielded security and access control cable matters

• Signal integrity: Shielding limits EMI from building systems like drives, elevators, and lighting, helping prevent reader faults and nuisance alarms.
• Crosstalk control: Each-pair shielded constructions maintain clean RS-485 and reader data in multi-signal cables.
• Project efficiency: A broad mix of gauges, conductor counts, and plenum/non-plenum ratings helps standardize across facilities and reduce change orders.

At-a-glance capabilities

• AWG range: 14, 16, 18, 20 (RG59/U), 22
• Constructions: 2C to 12C, 1–3 pairs, individually shielded pairs (EPS), overall aluminum foil shields (OAS), and foil + braid for video
• Ratings: CMP and CL3P plenum, CMR riser
• Lengths: 1000 ft and select 500 ft options
• Applications: Access control cable, security cable, RS-485 buses, CCTV cable, and building automation cable

Whether you are standardizing door hardware wiring across a corporate campus, deploying card readers and intercoms in healthcare, or running BAS networks in a high-rise, Windy City Wire shielded access control cable provides the performance and selection needed to keep security systems reliable and code compliant.

Frequently Asked Questions: Security & Access Control Shielded Cables

• What AWG conductors are available with this SmartWire Security & Access Control Shielded Cables cable?

  Available options include 14 AWG, 16 AWG, 18 AWG, 20 AWG, and 22 AWG.

• What other colors is this SmartWire Security & Access Control Shielded Cables cable available in?

  Available conductor color codes include: Black/White; Black/Red; Black-Red/White-Green; Black/Red/White/Green; Black/White/Red; Black/White/Red/Green; Black/White/Red/Green/Brown; Black/Red/White/Green/Brown/Blue; Black/White/Red/Green/Brown/Blue; Black/White/Red/Green/Brown/Blue/Orange/Yellow; Black/White/Red/Green/Brown/Blue/Orange/Yellow/; Black/Red, White/Green, Brown/Blue; Black/Red/White; Black/Red/White/Green/Brown/Blue/Orange/Yellow; Black/Red/White/Green/Brown/Blue/Orange/Yellow/Purple/Gray/Pink/Tan; Black/Red, Green/White, Brown/Blue; Black/Red/White/Green/Brown/Blue/Orange/Yellow/; Black/Red, White/Green.

• Is this SmartWire Security & Access Control Shielded Cables cable made with solid or stranded copper conductors?

  Most constructions use stranded bare copper for flexibility. Select items may feature tinned copper or solid conductors (application-specific). Refer to the part-specific specifications if you need confirmation for a given cable.

• What length is this SmartWire Security & Access Control Shielded Cables cable sold in?

  We manufacture and stock SmartWire Security & Access Control cable in 1,000 ft as our standard length. Select items are also available in 500 ft lengths.

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

  BACnet MS/TP: Runs over RS-485 physical layer; typically uses a 120-ohm shielded twisted pair; supports multi-drop daisy-chain networks; good noise immunity and long runs for building automation.
  RS-232: Single-ended signaling; point-to-point only; short distances (often up to ~50 ft at typical baud rates); generally one pair plus a reference/ground; more susceptible to noise.
  RS-485: Differential, balanced signaling on a shielded twisted pair (optional second pair for full-duplex); supports multi-drop networks; long distances (up to ~4,000 ft at lower speeds); requires proper termination and biasing; widely used for controls (including BACnet MS/TP and Modbus RTU).

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