Plenum, Riser, CM and LSZH Ratings Cables

Plenum, Riser, CM and LSZH Ratings Cables

What are plenum, riser, cm and low-smoke zero halogen ratings, and what are the differences between them ?

Plenum (CMP) rated cable:-

• Complies with NFPA-262 and UL-910.
• Allowed in spaces defined as "air plenums", such as raised flooring systems and air handling ducts.
• Must self-extinguish and not reignite.
• Produces less smoke (which is toxic) than traditional PVC cables.

Type FPLP power-limited fire alarm plenum cable is listed by the NEC as suitable for use in ducts, plenums and other space used for environmental air. All FPLP cables are listed as having adequate fire-resistant and low smoke-producing characteristics and must pass both UL test 1424 and UL tunnel test 910.

Riser (CMR) rated cable:-

• Complies with UL-1666.
• Defined for usage in vertical tray applications, such as cable runs between floors, through cable risers and in elevator shafts; spaces that cannot be used for environmental air.
• Must self-extinguish and must also prevent the flame from traveling up the cable in a vertical burn test.
• Plenum rated cables can be used in Riser spaces, whereas Riser rated cables cannot be used in Plenum spaces.

Type FPLR power-limited fire alarm riser cable is listed as suitable for use in a vertical run in a shaft or from floor to floor. All FPLR cables are listed as having fire-resistant characteristics capable of preventing fire from traveling floor to floor. Riser cables must pass both UL test 1424 and the vertical riser flame test UL 1666.

Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) rated cable:-

• Used in shipboard applications and computer networking rooms where toxic or acrid smoke and fumes can injure people and/or harm equipment.
• Examples of halogens include Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine and Iodine.
• These materials, when burned, produce acrid smoke that can cause harm to people and equipment.
• Does not produce heavy black soot and smoke common with PVC cables.
• Used mainly outside of the U.S.
• Self extinguishes.
• Does not pass UL-910 or UL-1666 for a Plenum or Riser rating.

General purpose (CM, CMG, CMx) rated cable:-

• Complies with UL-1581 testing.
• Will burn and partially self-extinguish.
• Not for use between build floors and air plenum spaces.
• Often used for workstation cable and patch cord.

Type FPL power-limited fire alarm cable is listed by the NEC as suitable for general purpose fire alarm use. All FPL cables are listed as being resistant to the spread of fire and must pass both UL test 1424 and vertical flame test UL 1581.

LPCB approved fire resistant cable standards:-

• BS 7629-1:2008
• BS 6387:2013 (Category CWZ)
• EN 50200:2006 (Class PH30)
• EN 50200:2006 Annex E (30 mins)
• BS 5839-1:2013 (Clause 26.2d Standard)

For Fire Detection Cable selection always checked below few points:-

    1. Cable should be according to Fire Panel OEM recommendation (2-Core / 3-Core; 1.0sqmm / 1.5sqmm / 2.0sqmm; shielding required or not ... etc).

    2. If Shield required it should be Aluminum mylar.

    3. Cable Should be Armor type.

    4. Cable outer jacket is XLPE / PVC.

    5. Cable should be LSZH type.

    6. Cable conductor should be Cooper multi-stand not single stand.

    7. Cable color is RED, Core identification one Red & one Black.

Flame Retardant Standards

• IEC 60332-1/BS 4066-1 - flame test on single vertical insulated wires/cables
• IEC 60332-3/BS 4066-3 - flame test on bunched wires/cables
• UL Standard for Fire Retardant Cable 
• CMP (Plenum Flame Test/ Steiner Tunnel Test) - plenum rated cables meeting NFPA -262 
• CMR (Riser Flame Test) - riser rated cables meeting UL1666
• CM (Vertical Tray Flame Test) - general purpose cables meeting UL 1581
• CMG (Vertical Tray Flame Test) - general purpose cables meeting UL1581
• CMX (Vertical Wire Flame Test) - restricted cables meeting UL1581

Fire Resistance Standards

• IEC 60331 - fire resistance test
• BS 6387 - fire resistance test (more stringent than IEC 60331)

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
• ES713 - toxicity index

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.