Fire-Resistant vs Flame-Retardant vs Fire Alarm Cables

■ Fire Cable Standards Explained: EN 50200, BS 6387, UL 1424 & CPR Fire Cables

Today's fire prevention efforts not only comply with legal requirements but also serve as a key foundation for proper construction and reliable infrastructure. Yet, the wires used to create fire protection systems play a crucial role during emergencies and save lives. Nevertheless, terms like Fire Resistant Cable, Flame Retardant Cable, Fire Alarm Cable, and Fire-Resistant Cable can often confuse people due to their wide spectrum of definitions in different standards and usages that share some commonalities. This article provides a detailed explanation of these terms, taking into account their distinctions and using real-world examples.

■ What Is a Fire Cable?

"Fire cables" is a broad industry term used to describe cables specifically designed to ensure a reliable connection in the event of a fire. These cables typically belong to the following categories:

• Fire-Resistant Cable

• Flame-Retardant Cable

• Fire Alarm Cable

• Fire Safety Cable

• Fire-Resistive Cable 

They are designed and manufactured to counter specific fire conditions and comply with various fire safety regulations.

■ Fire-Resistant Cable

Definition: 

Fire-Resistant (or Circuit Integrity) Cabling can maintain the connectivity of two electric circuits and preserve the operational ability of the connected devices for a specified period in the event of a fire, even in direct heating and high-temperature environments. 

Typical Standards: 

• IEC 60331

• BS 6387 (C-W-Z classification)

• EN 50200 (PH30, PH60, PH90, PH120 ratings)

Product Examples:

• LPCB EN 50200 2015 Class PH120 Stranded Flexible Fire Cable — tested per EN 50200:2015, PH120 rating ensures 120 minutes of fire resistance with flexible stranded conductor. 

• LPCB BS 6387 2013 Cat. C-W-Z Solid Fire Cable — British Standard BS 6387 tested cable resistant to fire, water spray, and mechanical shock, with solid conductor. 

• JE-H(St)H FE180-E30 E90 Solid Fire Cable — German standard FE180 guarantees 180 minutes of insulation integrity, with E30/E90 system level ratings for fire resistance.

How It Works: 

Such wires usually have fireproof constructions, such as foil or ceramic, which prevent wire breakdown caused by fire. 

Applications: 

• Emergency lighting circuits 

• Fire alarm and voice evacuation system power circuits 

• Smoke control and ejection system circuits 

■ Summary of Key Differences

■ Flame-Retardant Cable 

Definition: 

Flame-retardant wiring has been developed to control fire propagation along the wiring route. It self-extinguishes soon after the fire source is removed, preventing the spread of fire and curtailing the generation of smoke. 

Typical Standards: 

• IEC 60332-1 and IEC 60332-3

• UL 1685

• GB/T 18380

• CPR EN 50575:2014 + A1:2016 (e.g., CPR Cca s1a d0 a1 Fire Resistant Cable)

How It Works: 

The cable jacket and insulation contain flame-retardant additives (commonly halogen-free) which in case of fire act as a flame barrier by either forming a protective soot layer or releasing gases that dilute the flames. 

Applications: 

• Commercial building wiring 

• Public transport jobs (metro, railways) 

• Data centers and industrial facilities

■ Fire Alarm Cable 

Definition: 

Fire Alarm Cables are specifically made data and command lines for smoke detection and signaling systems. They have to carry alarm signals independent of situations being fraught with danger.

Typical Standards: 

• UL 1424 (Power-Limited Fire Alarm Cable categories: FPL, FPLR, FPLP)

• BS 7629-1

• NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code)

Product Examples:

• UL Fire Alarm Cable Plenum Rated Shielded — UL certified for air handling plenums, with shielding to reduce electromagnetic interference. 

• UL Fire Alarm Cable Riser Rated Unshielded — suitable for vertical riser shafts, unshielded construction.

Applications: 

• Smoke and heat detectors 

• Manual call points (pull stations) 

• Alarm control panels and notification devices (strobes, sirens) 

■ Fire Safety Cable 

Definition: 

Fire Safety Cable covers a wide range of conductors that come equipped with fire performance features (resistant or resistant) and are widely used in life safety and fire protection systems.

■ Fire-Resistive Cable (NFPA Style) 

Definition: 

The Fire-Resistive Cables, as per NFPA, are those that meet the requirements of UL 2196 and the standards of NFPA 70/72, and are capable of maintaining the functionality of any electric circuit for at least 2 hours under fire, water, and mechanical shock. 

Characteristics: 

• Inaugural use of mineral-insulated or fire-rated insulation with the aid of fire-rated raceway systems. 

• The critical to life circuits like voice evacuation, fire pumps, and emergency lighting systems.

■ Final Thoughts

It is crucial to understand the differences between fire-retardant, fire-resistant, and fire alarm cables when working with electrical designers, installers, and safety engineers. The wrong cable methods create fire safety risk for system failures. 

• Need circuit integrity under fire? Use Fire-Resistant or fire-resistive cables, such as LPCB EN 50200:2015 Class PH120 or BS 6387:2013 Cat. C-W-Z. 

• Need to reduce flame spread and smoke? Choose Flame-Retardant Cables compliant with CPR standards (e.g., CPR Cca s1a do a1). 

• For fire detection and alarm circuits, use Fire Alarm Cables such as UL Fire Alarm Cable Plenum Rated Shielded.

By picking the accurate fire-rated cable for every usage, you are making sure of the compliance, reliability, and most importantly life safety during the fire situations.

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