Fire Performance Cable
We supply a full range of fire resistant and fire performance cables, often also referred to as fire survival cables, fire-proof cables, or simply fire cables. These cables are for markets where British and European standards are used.
to Fire Performance Cable datasheets
Our fire resistant cable range is designed to ensure that emergency systems in public buildings continue to operate in some of the most extreme fire conditions.
Our range of European fire survival cables to FE180 E30 and E90 sits alongside European flame retardant cables which achieve EN 60332-3-24. For British standards, it is the Standard and Enhanced grade cables manufactured in accordance with cable design standards BS7629-1 and BS7846 and meeting the performance requirements of test standards EN 50200 (PH30, PH60, PH120 and Annex E), BS8434-2, BS8491, BS6387 CWZ, and Annex B of BS8591.
The intended application for all of these cables can be found in a number of Codes of Practice, which include BS8519 (selection and installation of fire resistant power and control cable systems for life safety, firefighting, and other critical aplications), BS5839 Part 1 (fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings - Part 1: Code of practice for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of systems in non-domestic premises), and BS5266 (emergency lighting - Code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises).
The portfolio of fire performance cables includes include BASEC-approved and LPCB-certified cables.
Fire Performance cable products
Our fire performance cables are specifically designed for augmented fire resistance in applications including the delivery of power and auxiliary control in fire alarm systems, voice alarm systems, and emergency lighting systems including those applications designed to meet BS5266. These cables will form part of the requirements of BS8519 for the installation of fire-resistant power and control cable systems for life safety and fire-fighting applications.
These fire resistant single core and multi-core cables are suitable for use within a number of Control Circuit categories. For added protection against the risk of mechanical damage, our fire performance cables with steel wire armour are designed to withstand direct impact and water jet pressure.
British Standard Fire Performance Cables
Cables for fire detection, fire alarms, and emergency lighting
Standard fire resistance vs Enhanced fire resistance as references in BS5839 / BS7629
| Level (as per BS 7629-1) | Cable Design and primary fire test standards | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| STANDARD 30 or STANDARD 60 (Standard fire resistance) | BS7629-1 (design) BS EN 50200 annex E and EN 50200 PH30 (Standard 30) or PH60 (Standard 60) * |
Fire resistant single core cables and multicore cables for BS5839-1 (most fire detection and fire alarm systems), BS5266 (emergency lighting and standard application circuits), and BS8519 (life safety) category 1 (standard 30) control circuits. Where used under standard BS5839-1, standard fire-resisting cables should be considered to provide sufficient resistance to the effects of fire, with appropriate methods of support and jointing. |
| ENHANCED 120 (Enhanced fire resistance) | BS7629-1 (design) BS8434-2 and BS EN 50200 PH120 |
Enhanced fire resistant cables are used in most public or complex buildings requiring emergency systems to remain operational for a minimum of two hours (PH120) in compliance with BS8434-2 and BS8519 category 1 & 2 control circuits. They are used for unsprinklered buildings with phased evacuation, unsprinklered buildings in excess of 30 metres in height, and where the designer, specifier or enforcing authority determines it is necessary on the basis of fire risk. |
* There are some standard cables which have been tested to PH120 and are certified accordingly. This should not be confused with an Enhanced cable which has to have been tested to BS8434-2. For BS8519 Category 3 (fire fighting 120) there is an additional test requirement - see the following table.
Fire Classifications and Applications - EN 50200, BS8434-2 and BS8519 Cat 3
| Standard / Reference | Fire Proof Cable Duration | Applications and test methodology |
|---|---|---|
| EN 50200 Annex E | Fire rated 30mins - Fire impact and water | Based on EN50200 with the inclusion of water spray. 15mins fire at 830oC (+40oC / -0oC) with indirect impact every 5mins followed by 15mins of fire and impact (as above) with the inclusion of water spray. |
| BS8434-2 | Fire rated 120mins fire impact and water at elevated temperature | As above but at 930oC (+40oC / -0oC) with fire and impact for 1hr followed by fire, impact, and water for 1hr |
| BS8519 Cat 3 | Fire rated 120mins fire impact and water at elevated temperature | For fire fighting applications as described in BS8519 clause 11: control cables meeting PH120 classification when tested in accordance with BS EN 50200:2006 and the 120min survival time when tested in accordance with BS8519 Annex B (core sizes up to and including 4mm2 cross-sectional area), excluding 3-phase power circuits. |
| PH30 | Fire rated 30 minutes |
PH30 cables are suitable for emergency applications where the circuit must remain operational for up to 30 minutes. In conjunction with EN 50200 Annex E this is suitable for Category 1 applications (means of escape 30mins) as defined in BS8519. |
| PH60 | Fire rated 60 minutes (1 hour) |
PH60 cables are used in emergency applications, in particular emergency lighting to BS5266 where longer circuit operation is required in the event of fire. In conjunction with EN 50200 Annex E this is suitable for Category 2 applications (means of escape 60mins) as defined in BS8519. |
| PH120 | Fire rated 120 minutes (2 hours) |
PH120 cables are designed for installations requiring enhanced circuit integrity for up to 120 minutes, This includes complex or high-rise blocks of flats requiring a longer evacuation period. In conjunction with BS8519 Annex B this is suitable for Category 3 applications (Firefighting 120mins) as defined in BS8519 |
Fire resistant power cables to BS7846
| Reference | Fire proof cable duration | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| F2 | Fire rated as BS6387 CWZ | Based on BS6387, compliance to C, W and Z requirements is required. |
| F30 | Fire rated 30mins to BS8491 |
30mins fire survival in accordance with BS8491. 25mins fire at 830oC (+40oC/-0oC) and DIRECT impact every 10mins followed by the application of high pressure water bursts if 5secs every minute for the last 5 minutes. Suitable for Category 1 applications (means of escape 30mins) as defined in BS8519 |
| F60 | Fire rated 60mins (1 hour) to BS8491 |
60mins fire survival in accordance with BS8491. 55mins fire at 830oC (+40oC/-0oC) and DIRECT impact every 10mins followed by the application of high pressure water bursts if 5secs every minute for the last 5 minutes. Suitable for Category 2 applications (means of escape 60mins) as defined in BS8519 |
| F120 | Fire rated 120mins (2 hours) to BS8491 | 120mins fire survival in accordance with BS9491. 115mins fire at 830oC (+40oC/-0oC) and DIRECT impact every 10mins followed by the application of high pressure water bursts if 5secs every minute for the last 5 minutes. Suitable for Category 3 applications (firefighting 120mins) as defined in BS8519 |
European Fire Resistant Cables
International standards for fire performance cables have a multitude of different test protocols for fire resistance: based on DIN VDE 0472-814 (similar to IEC 60331 series of test method standards and BS6387 Cat C), there's DIN 4102-12 furnace test for functional integrity of systems (where the entirety of the system is tested, including all cable management, and the approval is a system approval), and there's French standard NF C32-070 CR1 furnace for testing electrical integrity of cables under the heat of an electric radiant furnace that simulates the conditions of a fire.
Due to the vastly different national test requirements across Europe a direct comparison of cables between standards is almost impossible - unless they are all tested to all of the above relevant protocols they are not interchangeable.
| Reference | Fire proof cable duration | Applications and test methodology |
|---|---|---|
| FE180 | Fire rated circuit integrity 180mins | Cable circuit integrity withstand of 180mins based on DIN VDE 0472-814 (similar to IEC 60331 / BS6387 Cat C). |
| E30 | Cable rated 30mins as part of a holistic system | 30mins fire survival as a part of a holistic installation system in accordance with DIN 4102-12 furnace test up to 840oC. |
| E60 | Cable rated 60mins as part of a holistic system | 60mins fire survival as a part of a holistic installation system in accordance with DIN 4102-12 furnace test up to 950oC. |
| E90 | Cable rated 90mins as part of a holistic system | 90mins fire survival as a part of a holistic installation system in accordance with DIN 4102-12 furnace test up to 1010oC. |
| CR1 | Cable rated 75mins circuit integrity | Cable tested to NF C 32-070 CR1 |
Fire performance cable selection
As a leading supplier of fire performance cable, we have vast experience of designing and supplying cables manufactured in accordance with British, European and international standards. Contact our technical team to discuss your specific project or application's requirements.
Fire Performance Cable
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