Safety installation normal Electrical Cable to Fire Survival Cable

Switch normal Electrical Cable to Fire Survival Cable

Fire survival cable are those which can operate continuously in presence of fire. Fire definitely the most dangerous element which can affect you with loss of money or life.

Initially, electrical wiring technology was not so good and wires were catching fire easily. Not only electrical cable it applicable for Fire Detection loop / zone cable as well as CCTV & Access Control Cabling.

The Engineers who were the part of wiring generation, transmission and utilization of electricity, they observed that normal electric wires do not posses the ability to operate in high flammable environment.

This made them to think about the need of those cables which can work in highly flammable environment. The wires which will have high immunity against fire.

Generally, the layer of XLPE or PEX (Cross-linked polyethylene) is Polyvinyl Chloride (or PVC). Polyvinyl Chloride provides immunity to wire and make them to stand against fire, Though, it generates toxic fumes which are corrosive in nature.

Although XLPE cables comes with PVC layers still it produces highly toxic flames which form clog, invisible to people. Because of this the problem of suffocation and even a threat of death could be possible.

You all know that in today’s time Electricity is essential in every place be it a domestic or business environment. In crowded places like schools, office, Station, Museum, airport, hospitals, foster homes, hotels, Multiplexes, ships, tunnels, subways and in public premises, electric faults or fire spreads at a faster rate and destructs property and life.

Fire Survival Cable cure the problem of fire emission from wire. Normal Wires can cause the fire and also the fire can be spread, and they also can result in:

• Smoke Emission
• Emission of Carbon Monoxide Gas ( One of the dangerous gas)
• It will release the irritant gases such Hydrofluoric acid (HF), Hydrochloric acid(HCL), Carbonyl fluoride (COF2) and acrolein, depending on which type of material is used in cable.

To prevent these, you should replace your normal wiring with Fire Survival Cable.

Fire Survival Cables has a compound in it known as flame retardant low smoke PVC. This type of coating ensures very less emission of fire in compare to normal PVC coating.

Advantage of Choosing Fire Survival Cable

• It can handle the fire for a longer period.
• Water Proof.
• Comes in your budget.
• Highly Tensile Strength.
• Durable.
• Chemical Resistant.

Why Fire Survival Cable

Electricity is both good and bad at times. Electrical Wiring is the basic need in today’s time.

It should be well maintained and fire proof. The Fire can cause maximum effects from giving injury to death.

You should upgrade your wiring today with Fire Survival Cable as it gives you:

·        Reduces the Smoke Emission: There will be no release of dense smoke out of these wires.

·        Easy to install: Fire Survival Cables Jacket have low frictional coefficient than normal cables, which makes it easy to install.

·        No Toxic Gases: It eliminates the emission of toxic gases, which causes inhaling issue in human.unique design reduces the flame to spread through spaces.

·        Green & Clean Environment: It gives you a green & clean surrounding for living.

·        Reduces Flame Propagation: Its unique design reduces the flame to spread through spaces.

Conclusion

Electricity, good or bad. The argument will unstoppable. It is indeed an essential thing in human life. But when it creates dangerous effect, which sometime result in death. Than it becomes a matter of discussion.

Fire Survival Cable

Fire Survival Cable

Solid/Stranded (ATC/ABC) Copper conductor, insulated with specially formulated PVC/TPE/XLPE to form a core. Cores laid up together or twisted to form a pair/triad depending upon the individual requirement. Such cores/pairs/triads after laying are coated with special Fire Resistant materials and overall sheathed with special PVC/TPE/LSZH. These Fire Survival Cables are carefully tested as per IEC-60331 standards to meet the industry laid parameters.

Features:

·        High tensile strength

·        Durable

·        Water proof

·        Chemical resistant

·        Shielding with Braiding/Aluminum Mylar taping will be done overall or individually depending upon the requirement.

·        Armouring provided depending upon requirement with a extruded inner special PVC/TPE sheath, and overall sheath of special PVC/TPE.

Conductor : 
Electrolytic Grade Copper Bare / Tinned, Solid / Stranded / Annealed Flexible Conductors conforming to IS:8130:1984 or other international standard.

Fire Barrier : 
Conductor are insulated with Mica Glass Tape / silicone rubber as per requirements. Mica Tape survives temperature up to 1000°C. It is non-toxic, chemically neutral and 100% Halogen free.

Primary Insulation : 
The Insulated material may be Heat Resistant PVC / XLPE / Silicon Rubber or any other dielectric material as per customers specification.

Screening : 
Individual & Overall Shielding may be of Annealed Tinned Copper Braiding/Poly Aluminum [Thin Layer of Aluminum Foil bonded to Polyester Film] Tape with Annealed Tinned Copper Drain Wire. Braiding ATC Shield has high tensile Strength and provides better coverage in flexing application. It's also done by copper Tape or nickel copper as per specifications.

Inner Sheath : 
The Inner Sheath is applied over laid up of cores by extrusion / wrapping of thermoplastic material. The Insulation, Inner Sheath can be Normal Pvc /FR PVC / FRLS PVC / ZHFR / LSF Compound depending upon their application or specification.

Armour: 
Armour is applied over inner Sheath. It may consist of galvanized Round Steel wires or galvanized Flat Steel Strips conforming to IS: 3975. Steel wire armoured cables are suitable for direct burial. One or more copper wires can be incorporated in the armour to increase the conductivity of the Armour where it is being used as an earth return. Armour can also by steel tape / double helical steel tape or aluminum wire if client's requirement. Round Wire armoring is provided, where the calculated diameter under Armour is 13.0 m.m. above this, armoring is either round wire / steel strip as per client's requirement.

Outer Sheath : 

A final covering of PVC Compound is applied over Armouring in case of Armoured Cable or over Inner Sheath in case of Unarmoured Cable. The Color of Sheath is Black,Grey or as per customer's choice.The Outer Sheath material may be FR PVC / FRLS PVC / ZHFR / LSF as per requirement of the specification.

Standard Specifications :
ICE 331/ BS 6387 :1994, IEC 60331,
BS 6387 - CAT A,B,C,W,Z
BS 7846 - CAT F1, F2, F3
& other customized & International Standard

Fire Survival Test:

AS PER IEC-60331

Characteristics: 
* Will withstand Flame temperature of 750 degree centigrade up to 3 hours without electrical breakdown at rated voltage.
* During fire condition small quantity of toxic gases mainly, CO, CO2 are inevitably emitted. Fire Survival Cables are designed to limit these toxic gases within safety level.
* Corrosive Gases react with moisture to produce active acids which corrode metals causing extensive long term damage. Often these gases spread throughout the building through the ventilation system or within the entire installation. This is particularly damaging to electronic equipment’s and even to the exposed steel structures or even the concrete enclosed steel structures.
* Does not propagate flame. Zero Halogen Low Smoke insulation & sheath material supplied on request

This standard details the following tests to categories cables according to their fire withstand capabilities.

Resistance to Fire 950°C for 3 hours - Category C

Performance Table	Symbol
650°C for 3 hours	A
750°C for 3 hours	B
950°C for 3 hours	C
950°C for 20 minutes	S

Resistance to Fire with Water Spray 650°C - Category W

Performance Table	Symbol
650°C for 3 hours	W

Resistance to Fire with Mechanical Shock 950°C - Category Z

Performance Table	Symbol
650°C	X
750°C	Y
950°C	Z

Typical Application :

These fire retardant cables Specially designed for to maintain Long-term circuit integrity during and after a fire like public address and emergency voice communication systems , fire extinguishing systems, sprinklers pumps, control panels, exit lights in high-rise building control and instrumentation services in industrial, commercial and residential complexes, hospitals, airports, malls and crowdy areas etc. data and voice transmission,CCTV, security, smoke detection and evacuation monitoring applications ,interconnection of distribution boxes and end devices, where continued functionality is required during a fire situation ,in High-temperature installation conditions.

For fire survival cable type and sizes. See below image.

Benefits of choosing XLPE cable for Fire

Today, we all know the vast range of cables. LT Power Cable, Fire Survival Cable, Submersible flat cable and much more. The names can vary but almost all of these cables have one thing in common. A Conducting metal, an insulation material, and a sheath.

XLPE or better known “Cross-linked Polyethylene” have the feature of excellent insulation.

Basically, it is polyethylene. Polyethylene has crosslink’s which join the individual polymer chains together. Polythene has several applications in the modern world.

However, it has a low melting point.

This low melting point is covered by the cross-linking polymer chains. The cross linking’s helps in increasing the melting point. This and other cross-linked synthetic materials, of which EPR (ethylene propylene rubber) is a notable example, are being increasingly used as cable insulants for a wide range of voltages.

XLPE has many qualities which make it extremely useful for cable insulation. It is flexible permitting smaller bending radius for the cables. It is light weight and water proof. It is also tough which minimizes the need for armoring.

Cross-linking is the effect produced in the vulcanization of rubber and for materials like XLPE the cross-linking process is often described as ‘vulcan- ization’ or ‘curing’. Small amounts of chemical additives to the polymer enable the molecular chains to be cross-linked into a lattice formation by appropriate treatment after extrusion.

It is easier to handle and store compared to cables with paper insulation or lead insulation.

XLPE is considered to be the material of choice due to its ease of processing and handling, although paper / oil systems have a much longer history of usage and much more information on reliability exists.

Benefits of XLPE Cables

1. Electrical and Physical Properties

XLPE cable is known for providing an excellent electrical & physical property. It makes these cables best to use in transmission & distribution lines.

2. It can carry large current

Electricity travels in cables & wires. XLPE cables provide better thermal and aging property.

These special properties make any cable to carry currents under different temperature for long period of time.

3. Ease of Installation

Besides having the ability to stand under different temperature. It is very easy to install too.

As these cables are flexible and light in weight.

4. No need to stress over height and maintenance

Better insulation, better conductive metal provides these types of cable durable and flexible.

Now, it is easy to install these cables anywhere without stressing over height & route issues.

These type of cables do not possess oil, so it needs low maintenance.

5. No Need of Metallic Sheath

Sheath protects cables from external and internal forces at times.

However, In the case of XLPE cables, you need not worry about any metallic sheath or protection.

6. Excellent Protection

An XLPE cable gives an excellent mechanical, electrical, waterproof and radiation resistance.

It is best to use the XLPE insulated cables for electrical connection in line, lead wire of the motor, signal control line, locomotive wire, mining environmental protection cable, subway with shipping, nuclear power laying cable, firing X – ray high voltage line, TV high-voltage wire, and power transmission.

BS 5467 specifies construction and requirements for XLPE and EPR-insulated wire-armoured cables for voltages up to 3.3kV. The construction is basically similar to that of PVC cables to BS 6346, except for the difference in insulant. Because of the increased toughness of XLPE the thicknesses of insulation are slightly reduced compared with PVC.

The standard also covers cables with HEPR (hard ethylene propylene rubber) insulation, but XLPE is the material most commonly used. From 3.8kV up to 33kV, XLPE and EPR insulated cables are covered by BS 6622 which specifies construction, dimensions and requirements.

Conclusion:

Be sure to choose quality products, as choosing quality wires can help in the continuous flow of electricity.

·        Higher Current Rating.

·        High Short Circuit Rating.

·        Longer Service life.

·        For a short time it can withstand maximum 130°C and is favourable to endure short Circuit stresses.

·        It is less sensitive to the setting of the network protection.

·        Because of the thermosetting process taking place due the effect of cross linking, the crack resistance is increased.

·        Due to the chemical cross-linking internal stresses are reduced. Consequently the material is less sensitive during manufacturing process to the setting of the cooling gradient.

·        The thermal resistivity of cross linked material is favorably low, compared to the thermoplastic material.

·        The low dielectric loss is significant advantage.

·        The excellent mechanical features of the insulation improve the protection against external effects.

·        The resistance of the XLPE to acids, alkalies is outstanding and is often compensating the adverse environmental influences.

My recommendation, your application is Low / High always approve XLPE Cable in place of PVC.

About LSZH Cable

Halogen-Free Cable

Increasingly used in public and government buildings and where there is sensitive electronic equipment (i.e. Hospitals, Supermarkets, Airports, Control Rooms & Computer Suites) these cables are designed for increased safety in the case of a fire:

•         Reduction in hazardous fumes which can cause injury when inhaled
•        Reduction in corrosive chemicals which can cause damage to electronics

Historically, most cables used in installations have been insulated with PVC or similar materials.  In fires, these insulation materials release chlorine gas.  Chlorine is a poisonous gas and a danger to people.  In addition it forms hydrochloric acid when coming into contact with water.   Hydrochloric acid (HCL) can have devastating effects on adjacent equipment.

To overcome the problems associated with the release of chlorine gas, halogen-free cables are used.  Typically a halogen free cable is made of polypropylene, which does not produce a dangerous gas or acid in fire conditions.

What are halogens?

Halogens are non-metallic elements found in the periodic table. The five halogens are fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, & astatine. A common material that contains halogens in the chemical structure is PVC. Halogens make cable jackets and insulation highly flame retardant. Some naturally non-halogenated materials have halogen added because of the flame retardant properties. When burned, halogens emit a thick toxic smoke and become corrosive. These characteristics can cause damage to equipment and pose a safety concern.

Why consider halogen-free cable?

Over the last few years, halogen-free wire and cabling products have seen an increase in popularity. Halogen-free cables are used in consideration of issues including fire safety, fire damage prevention, and the environment. Halogen-free cables help eliminate the use of environmentally sensitive materials.

What does LSZH mean?

LSZH stands for low smoke zero halogen. The compounds in the cable insulation and jacket have no fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, or astatine. This means that the cable emits little to no toxic halogens and minimal smoke when in contact with fire. These are important safety precautions and they often appear together in wire and cable specifications. LSZH wire and cable is also called: low smoke non halogen (LSNH), low smoke halogen free (LSHF), and low smoke zero (0) halogen (LS0H).

In what applications can halogen-free cable be used?

Halogen-free cable is intended for use in applications in which insulation with low toxicity, low smoke generation, and low corrosiveness is needed. Examples include rapid transit, industrial, shipboard, and commercial fields where human safety and protection of equipment is a concern.

Does the NEC allow low-smoke halogen-free cable in all applications?

The NEC (National Electrical Code) doesn't prohibit halogen-free cable or wire installation in any application. The NEC does require low smoke cables for plenum spaces.

Is there a difference between low smoke and zero halogen?

Low smoke and zero halogen are not equivalent. Low smoke cable emits a thinner and clearer smoke when burning. This feature makes evacuation and firefighting efforts much easier and safer. A cable may be low smoke and still contain toxic halogens. Zero halogen means that the cable does not contain fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine or astatine. Zero halogen cable may still emit a thick smoke when burned. Both properties are not always needed for all cables. Check specifications to be sure that the cable meets both requirements if necessary for your application.

Are there any disadvantages to using low smoke zero halogen cables?

Low smoke zero halogen cables provide a lot of great safety advantages, but there is a bit of an electrical and mechanical trade-off. In order to be low smoke zero halogen, the cable jacket must incorporate a high percentage of filler material. This increase in filler material could make the jacket less chemical and water resistant and could provide poorer mechanical and electrical properties than a non-LSZH counterpart. LSZH jackets are also more likely to experience jacket cracking during installation, so special lubricants may be necessary to avoid damage. This is especially true in cold environments. Because of the limited flexibility of LSZH, it is not recommended in robotic or continuous flex applications. As a result, LSZH cable is commonly chosen for applications where fire safety is more of a concern than the cable’s specific electrical and mechanical properties. Advances in compound materials and processing have decreased some of these issues.

Can LSZH pass a flame test?

Yes. LSZH may pass a standard flame test. To determine how an LSZH cable will react in a fire, the following five criteria are considered:

·        How easily the cable will catch fire

·        How quickly the fire will spread along the cable

·        How much smoke is produced upon combustion

·        How toxic are the byproducts

·        How corrosive are the byproducts

Some test standards related to this type of cable are Plenum rated, LS rated, S1 rated, and ASTM D5424.

What should be considered when choosing LSZH?

When choosing LSZH products, factors such as the environment and price should be considered. An environmental factor such as the temperature of the installation could reduce the flexibility of the cable. Will the application be in an open area or confined? Will other flammable material be present? Low smoke zero halogen cable also tends to be higher in cost. Consult an expert from Allied Wire and Cable to find the best fit for your application.

Cables intended to fulfil this type of function are often labelled as one of the following:

LSZH - Low Smoke Zero Halogen

LSOH - Low Smoke Zero Halogen

LSF - Low Smoke and Fume

OHLS - Zero Halogen Low Smoke

Both LSZH and LSF are used to limit smoke, fumes and halogen given off in fire conditions.

Halogen & Smoke Emission, Corrosively & Toxicity Standards

IEC 60754-1 / BS6425-1 - emission of halogen

IEC 60754-2 - corrosivity

IEC 61034-1 / ASTM E662 - emission of smoke

ISO4589-2 / BS2863 - oxygen index LOI

ISO4589-3 / BS2782.1 - temperature index TI