004: Flame retardant and fire resistant cables

Flame retardant electrical cables are used to limit the spread of flame to another areas. Therefore, in case the cable catches fire and even burns completely due to the type of material used in the wire and cable covering, the fire must be extinguished within a limited time to prevent its spread to nearby areas.

Fire resistant (fire rated) electrical cables are used to ensure that emergency systems continue their operation during the defined fire condition for a specified period of time with resistance against combustion to maintain circuit integrity.

In below emergency systems, power and control cables must be fire resistant:

• Fire alarm system
• Voice alarm system
• Emergency lighting system

Fire resistance cable specification:

• Low smoke and fume
• Halogen free

Fire resistant types:

• Type A: Cable (at rated voltage) should withstand for minimum 90 minutes in a flame at 750°C to 800°C.
• Type B: Cable (at rated voltage) should withstand for minimum 90 minutes in a flame at 950℃ to 1000°C.

Fire resistant cable types based on operation time at 950°C:

• PH30: Fire rated for minimum 30 minutes
• PH60: Fire rated for minimum 60 minutes
• PH120: Fire rated for minimum 120 minutes

• The halogen gases which formed after the fire of ordinary PVC cables are toxic.
• LSZH (LSHF) is abbreviation of low smoke zero halogen cables (low smoke halogen free).
• SIHF is abbreviation of silicon halogen free cables.
• SICHF is abbreviation of silicon halogen free cable with Cu tinned copper braiding and PET band.

Important standards related to fire resistant and fire retardant cables are as below:

• NFPA 262
• IEC 60331
• IEC 60332-1
• IEC 60332-3
• IEC 60754-1
• IEC 60754-2
• IEC 61034-1
• BS 5839
• BS 4066-1
• BS 4066-3
• BS 6387
• BS 7629-1
• BS 8434-2
• BS 7846
• BS 8519
• BS 5266
• BS 6425-1
• BS 2863
• BS 2782-1
• EN 50265
• BS EN 50200
• UL1581
• UL1666
• ASTM E662
• ISO4589-2
• ISO4589-3

• Electrical cable specification
• Power cable
• Control cable
• Telecommunication cable
• Fiber optic cable
• Wire colours
• Offshore cable
• Coaxial cable
• Type designation code for power cable
• Type designation code for communication cable
• Cable glands
• Cable lugs
• Wire markers
• Cable labelling
• Heat shrink sleeves
• Sticky pad for wiring
• Cable tie for wiring