16/2 CL3P, CMP Plenum Rated, Unshielded, Stranded, Bare Copper Conductors, Black, 500ft, Pull Box

Description

16/2 CL3P Plenum Cable Black 500ft – Flexible Unshielded Bare Copper for Commercial Security Systems

16/2 CL3P plenum cable black 500ft is the installer’s choice when black jacket color is required for circuit identification, aesthetic matching, or project specification in commercial plenum environments. This pull box delivers 16AWG stranded bare copper conductors, a CL3P/CMP dual-rated unshielded jacket, and confirmed compatibility with door controllers, proximity sensors, keypads, sound systems, access control, and smoke detectors.

Furthermore, this cable meets the fire safety performance requirements defined under NEC Article 800 for CMP-rated Communications Multipurpose Plenum cable (nofollow). As a result, it is fully approved for installation in HVAC return-air plenums, suspended ceiling cavities, and any air-handling space where low-smoke, flame-retardant cable is mandated by code. Consequently, contractors, integrators, and AHJs can specify and approve this product with complete confidence on any inspected commercial job site.

Key Features of Our 16/2 CL3P Plenum Cable Black 500ft

• Black Jacket for Circuit Identification and Specification Compliance: The black outer jacket on this 16/2 CL3P plenum cable black 500ft is a practical advantage on projects where jacket color is specified for circuit differentiation. Many commercial integrators and electrical contractors use black cable to designate security alarm, access control, or low-voltage power circuits, keeping them visually distinct from white audio or data runs in the same ceiling. Moreover, black jacket cable often meets aesthetic requirements in exposed plenum spaces where dark cable blends into the ceiling grid.
• 16AWG Stranded Bare Copper Conductors: Two 16AWG stranded bare copper conductors provide excellent conductivity, flexibility, and long-term reliability throughout the cable’s service life. Stranded construction allows the cable to route cleanly through crowded ceiling cavities, conduit, and around framing members without conductor fatigue. Additionally, bare copper outperforms copper-clad aluminum in both resistance characteristics and corrosion resistance over time.
• Unshielded Design for Maximum Flexibility and Easy Termination: The unshielded construction keeps the cable profile slim and the bend radius tight, making it ideal for environments where routing flexibility is the priority over EMI protection. As a result, this cable terminates faster at keypad, sensor, and door controller connections because there is no shield drain wire to manage. Additionally, the absence of shielding makes it the most cost-effective option for runs in ceiling spaces with low interference risk.
• CL3P and CMP Dual-Rated Plenum Jacket: The black jacket carries both CL3P (Class 3 Plenum) and CMP (Communications Multipurpose Plenum) ratings. This dual certification, verified under UL 13 for plenum cable construction and materials (nofollow), satisfies NEC Articles 725 and 800 simultaneously. In other words, a single spool covers every plenum and riser inspection classification across all US jurisdictions.
• Confirmed Application Compatibility: This cable is specifically rated for door controllers, proximity sensors, keypads, access control systems, smoke detectors, and sound systems. Consequently, it is a true multipurpose low-voltage rough-in cable for security and AV integrators managing multiple system types on a single commercial project.
• 500ft Pull Box Packaging: The 500ft pull box delivers enough cable for multiple circuit runs on a full commercial floor without mid-run splices. Furthermore, pull box packaging provides tangle-free payout during ceiling pulls, reducing installation time and material waste on high-device-count security rough-ins.
• Low-Smoke Flame-Retardant Jacket: The flame-retardant jacket is engineered to resist fire spread and minimize toxic smoke output in air-handling spaces. Therefore, it fully satisfies the ANSI/NFPA 90A requirements for cable materials in plenum air-handling environments (nofollow) that apply to all commercial building construction in the US.
• ETL or UL Listed: This cable carries ETL or UL listing, confirming compliance with applicable US plenum cable safety standards. As a result, it is accepted on all project types — government, institutional, healthcare, and commercial — where listed cable documentation is a specification requirement.

Why Choose This 16/2 CL3P Plenum Cable Black 500ft for Your Project?

Jacket color is not just a cosmetic preference — it is a functional installation decision. This 16/2 CL3P plenum cable black 500ft is the correct choice when a project’s low-voltage design plan calls for black cable on security, access control, or keypad circuits. In commercial buildings, using distinct jacket colors for different circuit types makes future troubleshooting and maintenance significantly faster. Moreover, many systems integrators and electrical contractors maintain company-wide color standards across all their jobs, and stocking both black and white variants of the same cable spec ensures consistent compliance with those internal standards. For the white jacket variant of the same cable, see our 16/2 CL3P CMP Plenum Unshielded Cable – White 500ft (DoFollow).

The unshielded construction of this 16/2 CL3P plenum cable black 500ft is ideal for the majority of access control and security circuit runs in commercial buildings where the cable does not run parallel to significant EMI sources. Unshielded cable is slimmer, more flexible, and terminates faster than shielded alternatives — all advantages on high-device-count security rough-ins where hundreds of individual circuit runs must be pulled in a tight schedule. Furthermore, the 16AWG bare copper conductors provide more than sufficient current capacity for the 12VDC and 24VDC circuits used by door controllers, proximity readers, and keypad modules. For installations where runs pass near fluorescent ballasts, HVAC motors, or parallel power conduit, consider our shielded alternative — the 16/2 CL3P CMP Plenum Shielded Cable White 500ft (DoFollow) — which adds foil shielding for EMI-sensitive environments.

The CL3P/CMP dual rating on this 16/2 CL3P plenum cable black 500ft delivers the widest possible code coverage in a single product. CL3P satisfies NEC Article 725 for power-limited Class 3 circuit wiring including access control, security alarms, and keypads. CMP simultaneously satisfies NEC Article 800 for communications wiring in the same plenum spaces. Therefore, one spool handles every discipline and every inspector without requiring the contractor to maintain separate inventories for each classification. For the full range of plenum-rated security, audio, and low-voltage cables across all gauges, browse our complete Speaker and Security Cable collection (DoFollow).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why would I choose the black jacket version of this cable over the white version?

Jacket color selection on this 16/2 CL3P plenum cable black 500ft is primarily a circuit identification and specification decision. Many commercial low-voltage contractors use black cable exclusively for security alarm, access control, and keypad circuits, and white cable for audio, intercom, or paging circuits — creating a consistent visual differentiation system that speeds up troubleshooting during service calls years after installation. Additionally, some project architects and electrical engineers specify jacket color in the construction documents to enforce a color-coding standard across the building. Furthermore, in exposed plenum ceiling spaces with black ceiling grids and tiles, black cable is less visually conspicuous. The electrical and performance specifications are identical between the black and white variants — the choice is entirely driven by circuit identification needs and project requirements.

Q: Is unshielded plenum cable acceptable for access control and proximity reader circuits?

Yes — for the majority of commercial access control and proximity reader installations, this 16/2 CL3P plenum cable black 500ft is entirely appropriate in its unshielded form. Unshielded cable is the standard specification for access control circuits in buildings where the cable runs do not pass within close proximity to Class 1 power wiring, fluorescent ballasts, or HVAC motor starters. The 16AWG bare copper conductors maintain low DC resistance across typical access control circuit runs of 25 to 100 feet, ensuring reliable device operation. However, if a specific run must pass through a high-interference zone — such as directly above a mechanical room or alongside a large conduit bundle — a shielded variant should be substituted for that run. As a result, most security integrators stock both shielded and unshielded 16/2 CMP plenum cable to handle both scenarios efficiently.

Q: Can this cable be installed in riser shafts as well as plenum ceiling spaces?

Yes — because this 16/2 CL3P plenum cable black 500ft carries a CMP rating, which is the highest fire-resistance classification in the NEC cable hierarchy, it is permitted as a substitute wherever a lower-rated cable such as CMR, CM, or CL3 is required. Consequently, a single spool of CMP-rated cable can be installed across both plenum ceilings and vertical riser shafts within the same project, eliminating the need to stock separate jacket ratings for each pathway type. However, CMR or standard CL3 cable cannot be substituted in plenum spaces — the substitution only works in the upward direction. Therefore, specifying CMP-rated cable for an entire building is the most efficient compliance strategy for contractors who want to minimize SKU inventory. Always confirm the specific fire-rating requirement for each individual pathway with your local Authority Having Jurisdiction before installation.

16/2 CL3P plenum cable black 500ft from 52Networks delivers certified fire safety, flexible unshielded construction, and stranded bare copper reliability for every commercial security and low-voltage installation. Order today and receive a 500ft pull box ready for your next plenum ceiling project.