Circuit Integrity Cables

Amendments to Approved Document BIn April 2007-

How does this affect your choice of Fire Performance Power Cable?

Agenda

• Circuit Integrity Tests & Standards

• BS 7346-6:2005

• Approved Document B

• Firetufpowerplus

Fire Resisting Cables

Fire Resisting Cables:

Maintain Circuit IntegrityCircuit Integrity:

Maintain Electrical Function under Defined Conditions

Fire Integrity Tests – Standards

National/International STDS.IEC 60331:First published 1970B.S.6387:1994BS EN 50200:2000/B.S.8434-2B.S.7846:1996B.S.7346-6:2005DIN 4102-12:1998NFC32-310-CR1AS/NZS3013:1995UL 2196

Test Protocols-Defined Conditions

All tests apply the appropriate system Volts

Current is passed through a load or conductors are stressed

Impact –indirect for alarms,direct for Power

Water,Sprinklers for alarms,hoses for Fire fighting

Times?-generally 30 minutes for Alarms/Life Safety,90/120 minutes for FF

No system tests apart from GE. who have installation system.A large scale test is being considered under Mandate 117 of the

CPD

Fire Resistance –Circuit Diagram

IEC 331 Circuit Integrity Test 1970

B.S. 6387. 1994

B.S.6387-CWZ 3 separate tests on different cable samples

EN 50200. 2000

B.S.8434-2:2003

B.S.7846:1996

B.S.7846

B.S. 7846 F3 Test

30 Mins.Fire with Impact

15 Mins. Water “Drench” ‘ I litre/Sq. m./sec.

830 Cent.

DIN 4102-12

Pulley

CableFurnace

Clamp

Mass

Fire Testing with Mechanical Load

NFC32-310-CR1

AS/NZS3013:1995 Hose Stream

Additional Performance Criteria

Maintenance of Electrical function+

No contribution to Fire SpreadNo Toxic FumesMinimal Smoke Generation

Reaction to fire – flaming debris

Fire resistance tests for cablesTrends-Integrated tests -increasing severity

Fire+ Fire+ Fire+ Fire+Shock Shock+ Impact+ Impact+

Water spray Water spray Water jet

Evacuation Fire Fighting

UK Fire resistance tests for cables Test Standards

• OLD STANDARD

Alarm CablesBS6387:1994 (1983) Category

(CWZ)

Power CablesBS7846:2000 Annex L

F2 (BS6387 for larger sizes)

F3 (EN50362 + water spray)

• NEW STANDARD

Alarm CablesBSEN50200:2006 (2000) PH

classification /B.S.8343-2

Power CablesBS7346-6:2005 Annex B (to be

BS8491)

UK Fire Resistant CablesProduct standards

• BSEN60702 – refers to IEC60331-21

• BS7629 – refers to BS6387 but in • process of revision to reference

BSEN50200 following B.S. 5839 revision

• BS7846 • F1 – as BS6387 cat C• F2-BS6387 CWZ mod for larger cables• F3-as BSEN50362=water spray

Fire resistance tests for cablesApplication standards

• Alarms:

• BS5839-1 – calls up cables meeting BS EN50200 (30 or 120 min) and BS8434-1 or BS8434-2

• Emergency Lighting:

• BS5266-1 – calls up cables meeting BS EN50200 (60 min)

• Shevs

• BS7346-6 – calls up cables meeting its own Annex B (will be BS8491)

4 Cable Types B.S.5839-1:2002

• B.S.7629• B.S.7846• B.S.6207• Other Designs with equal

performance• Existing tests were

deemed inadequate

•

Revision of Fire performance of alarm cables

FP Power Cable Dev.

User Groups/Specifiers require Direct Impact

Also view that fire fighting phase requires a “Hose Stream “ test

Background to B.S.7346-6

• Modern building technology involves “Fire Safety Engineering”

• Active Fire Safety systems such as sprinklers and smoke• evacuation systems are required to operate both in evacuation• and fire –fighting phases.

• In this context it is considered that the Cable performance• requirements contained in BS 7846 are inadequate for certain• applications.

– Smoke ventilation systems

– Electrically operated fire doors and curtains

– Pressurization fans

– Sprinklers and wet-riser pumps

B. S. 7346-6

B.S. 7346-6 was published in 2005 as part of a series of Standards covering the requirements for”Components for smoke and Heat Control Systems”

Title – “Specifications for cable systems”

Defines new Fire Performance (Circuit Integrity) requirements for Power cables

Does not cover:

Cables < 20mm in Diameter

Wiring systems installed in Conduit

Wiring systems for Alarm and Sounder circuits (BS 5839)

Also defined are requirements for cable fixings and joints

B.S.7346-6

Complex Buildings have a Fire Safety Engineering Infrastructure

Greater emphasis on Circuit Integrity

Cables must have a suitable perfromancelevel

A new Test is introduced

Cable Classes -ratings

• B S 7346 defines two classes of cable:

• Life Safety systems – systems that must remain operational to alert,evacuate, and protect people.

• Fire Fighting systems - active systems for protecting and assisting fire-fighters

Fire survival times

• When subjected to the BS 7346 test cables shall be capable of:

a) 30 or 60 minutes for life safety systems

b) 120 minutes for fire-fighting systems

c) 30 minutes for property protection systems

The Fire Test

• The test is based on the BS 7846 test but is Integrated.

• Constant temperature attack at 842 degrees

• Direct mechanical impact = 10 N

• Pressure Water jet (6.3mm hose,12.5l/m) during final 5 minutes of test - to simulate fire hose

Implications of BS 7346

• B S 7346 has now been referenced in approved Document B by the DCLG

• The new Regulations became effective on April 1st. 2007

Changes to approved Document B

• Notes interaction with other legislation esp. RRO (Fire safety) 2005

• Notes the importance of Product Approval schemes and importance of site installation and competent workmanship

• Introduces a requirement to keep records to meet statutory duties under the RRO

• Includes changes to the requirements for cable to ensure secure power supplies

• Became effective April 2007

Approved Document B –Protected Power Circuits

• Critical electrical Circuits must function

• Cables must be sufficiently robust

• Cable routes,physical protection and cable supports and joints,if used, shall not reduce circuit integrity

• In large or complex buildings there may be fire protection systems that need to operate for an extended period during a fire. Further guidance on the selection of cables for such systems is given in BS 5839-1, BS 5266-1 and BS 7346-6.

Approved Document B (Fire Safety)

B.S.7346 Test arrangement

2 Hours at 840 Cent.

B.S.7346-6 Hose stream

New Products

• New cable products are required to meet the new, more onerous requirements

• After extensive development and testing,Draka launched Firetufpowerplusat Firexpo in May 07

Draka Introduce Firetufpowerplus

Firetufpowerplus utilises additional fire barriers and new Halogen Free, Low Smoke material technology,compared to B.S.7846 cable Firetuf FTPC.It has conventional wire armour design, and complies with B.S.7846, and B.S.7346-6

Firetufplus has been independently tested by LPCB and has a full size rangeapproval

Future Fire Specification Updates

• BS6266-Code of practice for protection of electronic equipment installations

• DD 9999-Code of practice for fire safety in the design,construction and use of buildings

• BS 5588-Fire precautions in the design,construction and use of buildings,parts 1,5,6,10,11

• PD 6686-Guidance on directives,regulations and standards related to prevention of fire and explosion in the process industries

• BS 5306-2 Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises

B.S. 7346-6 Firetufpowerplus

• Any Questions