Audio Systems: Speaker Wire in the Electrical Code, home depot canada, home speakers

Question
Hi Cleggsan,
A associate at home depot (canada) explained to me that I needed to by cetain speaker wire with a thick black sheathing that is more fire resistant than standard speaker wire for a behind the wall setup. I know you may not be aware of the electrical code in canada but does this sound legit? They said it would not pass an electrical inspection. I've also seen this wiring done by a home builder recently.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks

Answer
See this backgrounder on speaker wiring in the home:

http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/ISEO-rgbtcspd/learningcenter/home/speakers_wir...

For normal high fidelity and audio/video installations the voltages are low enough they escape any building code requirements in most provinces around the world.

However, professional installations, probably as referred to by the HD people are run at 70v line application and it does fall within the code requirements both in Canada and the USA.  These are systems where distributed sound is run to speakers throughout a commercial building such as a retail store, church, synagogue and so on.

I do not know of any special code requirements for Canada.  However, if you read through the white paper from Crutchfield (above) it seems prudent to use a good, well protected speaker wire for running through exterior and interior walls.

Here is a discussion about home electrical projects that might be of interest. It does not say the extent it applies to low voltage speaker wiring.  My guess is that if a building inspector is necessary for a given project that you may be subject to the interpretation of the code by the individual inspector.  But, that is just my opinion.

BTW, here is a link to Bose professional installation - for which they are famous for - that shows, if you read section 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 that for this product, which IS run on a 70v line the code referred to.

http://pro.bose.com/pdf/pro/manuals/fs_m32se/ig_fsmodel32se_eng.pdf

And, here is a link to JBL's professional installation.

But, alas, these to not apply to home audio projects that I know of.

So, I have not given you an exact reply to your question but I am of the opinion that for home audio installations of conventional high fidelity equipment you do not need to comply with the electrical standards unless you use constant voltage lines (70v transformers) to distribute the speaker power.  Nonetheless, it would behoove you to follow the professional rules so far as how to dress the wires, avoid sharp corners, etc. as mentioned in the literature.

Hope this helps.
C