Fire Performance Cable

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.