Abandoned fire alarm cables may remain in a building only if they are tagged for future use.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only if they are in non-critical areas
• D. Only if replaced

Answer: (A)

Keeping unused or abandoned fire alarm cabling in a building is allowed only when it is clearly tagged for future use. This tagging communicates the cable’s status to anyone working on the system, preventing confusion, accidental connections, or misinterpretation that the cable is part of the active alarm network. The tag serves as a clear record that the cable is not currently in service but may be repurposed later, which helps with maintenance, future renovations, and documentation accuracy. Without tagging, abandoned cables could be mistaken for active run lines or lead to inadvertent wiring mistakes. In practice, if a cable is left in place, it should be identified as not in use and protected from damage, and it should be documented so future personnel know its intended future use.