Fire Resistant /Flame Retardant Cables

S

Thread Starter

Srinivas

Please let me know whether Fire Resistant Cable are IS or Non IS. What type of cable can be used for Gas Detectors in Zone 0.
 
Fire resistant cables maybe carry both IS or non-IS signals. Type of signal depends on the source of the signal, and cable type does not depend on the same.

You may use fire resistant cable for either application.
 
what is the main difference between fire resistant and flame retardant cables ?

can any one clarify this ?

thanks,
sudha
 
H

Hiren Thakor

FR means FLAME RETARDANT,

It has got resistance to fire momentarily (by adding fillers in PVC compound) at the cost of decreasing in insulation properties (viz. Volume resistivity, ageing properties) by at least 10% comparing to normal PVC. Moreover its conductor temperature withstanding capability (during overload) remains only at 70 deg C same as ordinary PVC cables.

Flame Retardant Low Smoke
FRLS IS 694: 1990.
PVC has got fire retardant properties due to its halogen content. The fire in the gets extinguished immediately on removal of the fire source. In the modern power, Chemical, fertilizer and cement plant many PVC cables are bunched in the cable shaft or on cable trays. In case of fire in these cables the fire becomes self-sustaining. Moreover due to the burning of PVC a dense corrosive smoke is emitted which makes fire fighting very difficult, due to poor visibility and toxic nature of the smoke. HCL content of the smoke, not only damages other costly equipment lying near by, but also penetrates the RCC and corrodes the steel reinforcement. Due to this there is an extensive damage to the property.

To overcome these deficiencies FRLS i.e. Fire Retardant Low Smoke PVC was developed. If required, we can provide Fire Retardant Low Smoke (FRLS) PVC inner sheath and/or outer sheath. This PVC compound, apart from meeting the requirements of Type ST2 as per IS-5831, has got better fire retardant properties and it emits lower smoke and acid fumes When it catches fire (For more information please refer our catalogue on FRLS cables).

FRLS has special flame retardant, low smoke emitting and toxic fumes suppressing properties, in addition to the properties required by IS 694: 1990.

In the Case of fire, convectional PVC insulated wires give out thick black smoke and toxic fumes of hydrochloric acid gas. This impairs visibility and hampers rescues operations. Xtra- Guard on the contrary, not only emits very little smoke and toxic gases, but also retards the spreading of fire. It is thus ideal of concealed and conduit wiring in multi-storied high rise buildings such as hotels, banks, hospitals, factories, commercial complexes and residential apartments, etc.

FIRE SURVIVAL CABLES
In continuation to a series of premium products by RR KABEL since last three years, the company is proud to add another feather in its cap by introducing an exceptionally quality product with wonderful features for the Indian market.

Why FS Cables???
The presently available products and developments are at the stage when people started converting from Aluminium to solid copper cables to flexible wiring and latest to unilay conductor technology. In insulation VIR/CTS were replaced by deadly PVC which emits dense black smoke on fire. An improvement was sought with FRLS range and HFFR (ZERO HALOGEN) cables certainly relieved the users to some extent. Still the lights went off under fire conditions.

Main property is
1.Circuit integrity test as per IEC 331/ BS 6387- CAT. C: cables are subjected to fire at 750 deg C for 3 Hrs. with electricity flowing through it.
 
Fire resistant cables are intended for use in inter panel connections of electrical, electronics & fire alarm/safety systems where fire survival properties are required. Whereas fire retardant cables are general purpose cables, having FRLS PVC as the polymer used in sheathing.

There is no Indian standard for fire resistant cables but many British and other European standards are available suitable for most usages.

Regards,
Arun Kohli
 
i understood what ever u said. MAY i know the exact difference between Fire resistance Low smoke and Fire Redartant low smoke. please reply me..

Regargs Alagesh

 
A
Dear Alagesh,

The word FRLS is used in India, is for "fire retardant low smoke", which are wires & cables insulated & sheathed with fire retardant low smoke PVC polymer. You should not confuse it with
fire resistant/survival cables that are capable of surviving fire for 30 minutes to three hours.

By surviving I mean that these cables continue to conduct electricity in case of actual fire. This is because of special construction of fire resistant cables because of which the cable is able to survive fire, water and mechanical stress.
We at Alankar Cables,India have developed fire survival cables for power,control and data usages.

If you need more information, Please visit our website www.alankarcables.com or write to me at info [at] alankarcables.com.

Regards,
Arun Kohli
Alankar Cables
 
Fire resistant cables can ensure the safety of electric conduction even at the high temperature. So fire resistant cables pay attention to the safety of power supply.

Flame retardant cables can emit less toxic smoke and not easy to fire, so they can give people more time to left the dangerous area or avoid the explosion. these cables pay attention to safety of human life.
just on my own opinion.

best regards
 
Flame retardant (FR) or FRLS compounds are not suitable for building wires for the following reasons:-

1.FR & FRLS PVC compounds are said to be flame retardant because they have better LOI(limiting Oxygen Index) and TI(temperature Index) than ordinary PVC,but, only better LOI & TI does not guarantee better flame retardant properties. LOI & TI are only quality control tests and flame retardant testing is incomplete without finished cable testing as per IEC 332-1 &3.

Moreover, all the FR and FRLS PVC compounds contain antimony trioxide which is a probable carcinogen. When inhaled,ATO can cause irritation of the respiratory track, mouth, nose & stomach. It may also cause the heart to beat irregularly or even stop.

2. The use of FR & FRLS PVC compounds does not solve the issues of dense black smoke and HCL acid gas emitting from burning which are the main cause of loss of human lifes during fire accidents, as was the case in the current Carlton Towers fire at Bangalore.

3. All PVC,FR & FRLS compounds also contain phthalate plasticizers. These plasticizers leach out of PVC compound after some time and results in PVC loosing its flexibility and other properties. Moreover most of the phalates presently used have been identified as suspected endocrine disrupters and reproductive toxicants

Want to know more, mail me at arun.alancab [at] gmail.com

Regards,
Arun Kohli
Alankar Cables
 
N
Dear Sir,

Are you manufacturing FR & FRLS PVC COMPOUND for your cables or are you outsourcing it.

Regards,
NIKET LADHA
 
K

Khaled Al Azzani

Fire Retardant:
Slow down the spread of fire (LSF sheaths)

Fire resistance:
Continue to operate during fire
-Signal circuits-Ex:fire alarm
-power circuits-Ex:emergency left

Regards
Khaled Al Azzani
 
dear khaled ,

fire retardants are meant to slow down the spread of fire. as copper does not melt easily unless the wires are short or grounded they continue to pass current. some have a higher fire resistance and some have a low fire resistance. please be more specific
 
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