Aiphone 85160210C - 2-Conductor, 16AWG, Low Cap Wire, 1,000'

The Aiphone 85160210C is a 2-conductor, 16AWG low capacitance, non-shielded cable technically matched to the designated Aiphone system's wire specifications. That is the point of buying it rather than generic bell wire: capacitance and resistance are controlled to what the intercom expects, at 14.0 pF/ft and 4.02 ohms per 1000 feet at 68 degrees F. Check the wiring diagram for the specific Aiphone station you are installing to confirm 16AWG 2-conductor is what that system calls for.

Cable rating is (UL) CL3 and FPL, with c(UL)us CM. CL3 covers Class 3 remote control and signaling circuits, FPL is power limited fire alarm cable, and CM is general purpose communications. None of those is a plenum (CMP/CL3P) or riser (CMR/CL3R) rating, so for a return air plenum or a vertical shaft run between floors your inspector will want a plenum or riser cable instead. In general purpose spaces and conduit, the CL3/FPL/CM listing is what applies.

The cable's electrical characteristics are what set the distance: 4.02 ohms DC resistance per 1000 feet at 68 degrees F, and 14.0 pF/ft capacitance, low capacitance and non-shielded. Aiphone publishes a maximum wiring distance per system model and per gauge, so match those two numbers against the distance chart for the system you are wiring. The 16AWG size is the heavier end of the intercom range, which is why it is specified on the longer runs.

Non-shielded. It is built as a low capacitance cable rather than a shielded one, which is how Aiphone controls signal quality on its two-wire runs. If the station you are installing calls for shielded cable on its diagram, this is not that part, and you should not substitute one for the other because the drain and shield termination is part of how those systems reject noise.

RoHS III and REACH compliant, and made in the USA. On institutional and government work where a domestic preference clause or a restricted substances declaration is part of the submittal, both of those are on the record for this cable. Insulation and jacket are both PVC.

It is classed as commercial cable, which is consistent with the UL and c(UL)us listing and the CL3/FPL/CM rating an AHJ will look for on a permitted job. Nothing stops it being used on a single family install, but the reason it is specified is that the ratings hold up on inspected commercial and multi-family work.