Fire rated cables

BRE Global specialises in working with clients to help assess and develop the performance of cabling products. Cables alone are very rarely the source of a fire, but can add the potential for spread of flame and to the fire load. We provide a complete range of cable testing and approvals for the Construction, Transport, Marine, Aviation and Fire Detection market.   Buildings of any generation are full of different kinds of cables. Each one of them represents a potential hidden danger capable of providing a full fire load that can spread fire rapidly throughout a building. This underlines the importance of ensuring cables are tested and approved to the appropriate standards. BRE Global provides the cable industry with an authoritative and independent testing service, and through LPCB is able to offer third party approval.   LPCB approved cable is tested and certified to a full range of applicable specifications and standards. Our approvals process includes assessment of the manufacturer's ISO 9001 or Factory Production Control systems to ensure that the products meet and continue to meet our quality criteria in addition to annual product audit testing.   Fire rated cables are split into two categories, Fire resistant cables and Fire retardant cables.   Both types of cables are required to perform differently in the event of a fire.   Fire resistant cables are designed such that in the event of a fire they maintain circuit integrity   Fire retardant cables are designed such that in the event of a fire they limit the generation and spread of fire and smoke.   Standards LPCB approves to:- Flammability

• EN 60332-1-2: Reaction to fire, Tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions – Part 1 – 2: Test for vertical flame propagation for a single insulated wire or cable – Procedure for 1 kW pre-mixed flame
• EN 60332-3: Tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions - Part 3: Test for vertical flame spread of vertically mounted bunched wires or cables
• BS EN /IEC 60332-3-21 Tests on electric & optical fibre cables under fire conditions Part 3-21: Test for vertical flame spread of vertically mounted bunched wires or cables - Category A F/R
• BS EN /IEC 60332-3-22 Tests on electric & optical fibre cables under fire conditions Part 3-22: Test for vertical flame spread of vertically mounted bunched wires or cables - Category A
• BS EN /IEC 60332-3-23 Tests on electric & optical fibre cables under fire conditions Part 3-23: Test for vertical flame spread of vertically mounted bunched wires or cables - Category B
• BS EN /IEC 60332-3-24 Tests on electric & optical fibre cables under fire conditions Part 3-24: Test for vertical flame spread of vertically mounted bunched wires or cables - Category C
• BS EN /IEC 60332-3-25 Tests on electric & optical fibre cables under fire conditions Part 3-25: Test for vertical flame spread of vertically mounted bunched wires or cables - Category D   Integrity
• BS 6387 CWZ Cables required to maintain circuit integrity under fire conditions
• BS 8434-1 Fire integrity of electric cables - Part 1: test for unprotected small cables for use in emergency circuits - BS EN 50200 with addition of water spray
• BS 8434-2 Fire integrity of electric cables - Part 2: test for unprotected small cables for use in emergency circuits- BS EN 50200 with a 930°C flame and with water spray
• BS 8491 Fire integrity of large diameter power cables for use as components for smoke and heat control systems and other certain active fire safety systems
• BS EN 50200: PH30, PH60 or PH120 Resistance to fire of unprotected small cables for use in emergency circuits
• IEC 60331-1 Tests for electric cables under fire conditions - Circuit integrity - Part 1: Test method for fire with shock at a temperature of at least 830°C for cables of rated voltage up to and including 0,6/1,0kV and with an overall diameter exceeding 20mm.
• IEC 60331-2 Tests for electric cables under fire conditions - Circuit integrity - Part 2: Test method for fire with shock at a temperature of at least 830°C for cables of rated voltage up to and including 0,6/1,0kV and with an overall diameter not exceeding 20mm.
• IEC 60331-3 Tests for electric cables under fire conditions – Circuit integrity – Part 3: Test method for fire with shock at a temperature of at least 830 °C for cables of rated voltage up to and including 0,6/1,0 kV tested in a metal enclosure
• IEC 60331-21 Tests for electric cables under fire conditions - Circuit integrity – Part 21 Procedure and requirements - Cables of rated voltage up to and including 0,6/1,0kV
• IEC 60331-23 Tests for electric cables under fire conditions - Circuit integrity - Part 23 Procedure and requirements - Electric data cables
• IEC 60331-25 Tests for electric cables under fire conditions - Circuit integrity - Part 25 Procedure and requirements - Optical fibre cables
• IEC 60331-31 Tests for electric cables under fire conditions - Circuit integrity - Part 31 Procedure and requirements for fire with shock - Cables of rated voltage up to and including 0,6/1,0kV   Smoke
• IEC/ BS EN 61034-2 Measurement of smoke density of cables burning under defined conditions   Materials
• IEC/BS EN 60754-1 & 2

1. Test on gases evolved during combustion of material from cables - Part 1: Determination of the halogen acid gas content
2. Test on gases evolved during combustion of materials from electric cables - Part 2: Determination of acidity by pH measurement) and conductivity   Product Standards

• BS 7629-1 Electric cables - Specification for 300/500 V fire resistant screened cables having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire - Part 1: Multicore and multipair cables
• BS EN 60702-1 Mineral insulated cables with rated voltage not exceeding 750V
• BS 7846: F2, F30, F60 & F120 Electric cables 600/1000V armoured fire-resistant cables having thermosetting insulation and low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire
• BS 8592 Electric cables –Thermosetting insulated, non-armoured, fire-resistant, single core non-sheathed cables of rated voltage 450/750 V, having low emission of smoke and corrosive gases when affected by fire –Specification   Code of Practice
• BS 5839-1 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for system design, installation, commissioning and maintenance
• BS 8519 Selection and installation of fire-resistant power and control cable systems for life safety and fire-fighting applications - Code of practice   CE Marking The product standard EN 50575 for power, control and communication cables was cited in the OJ on 10 July 2015, marking the start of CE marking being possible for these products from 1 December 2015. From 1 July 2017, CE marking became mandatory for all such products placed on the market in Europe.   As a Notified Body for a wide range of construction products covered by the CPR, and a UKAS-accredited laboratory for conducting the tests needed to demonstrate compliance, BRE Global is able to provide manufacturers of these products with a professional and efficient service in support of their CE marking requirements.