We are offering fire survival cable.
Fire survival cables
fire survival and circuit integrity
fire survival cables are cables that are designed to continue to operate for a defined minimum period of time during a fire. They are also known in the north american market as circuit integrity cables, since these are used in circuits that must be able to maintain their integrity during a fire. Many manufacturers refer to these products as “fire resistant” cables. Traditionally, the main application for fire survival cables was in fire alarm systems, as in some countries it is a requirement that such cables must continue to operate for a specified period in the event of a fire. In addition to fire alarm systems, these types of cable may also be used in other safety-critical wiring circuits, such as those powering emergency lighting and sprinkler pumps.
various test standards
in addition to the international standard iec 60331, there are several different national fire survival cable standards. These national standards are generally more rigorous than iec 60331. The fire performance tests check that the cable can survive not only fire, but also mechanical shocks and water spray. Some standards involve testing not a just a length of cable, but apply to the cable plus fixings. For example, the north american standard for circuit integrity cables involves particularly robust tests of the cable and its fixing system, including a blast from a high pressure hose after a fire test in a large furnace.
alternative designs for fire survival cables
the earliest type of fire survival cable was mineral insulated (mi, also sometimes known as mims, mic or micc). An mi cable consists of copper conductors surrounded by mineral powder insulation (usually magnesium oxide) contained within an outer metal sheath, usually a copper tube. Though mi cable is a traditional design of fire survival cable, they found favour only in certain countries, such as the uk and china. Alternative fire survival cable designs that use polymeric insulation and tapes (often mica) are now in wider use than mi cables. In the event of a fire the polymeric insulation forms a protective ash so that the cable can continue to operate.
new applications emerge
traditionally fire survival cables were low voltage energy cables, essentially building wire but with enhanced fire resistance. In more recent years other types of cables have become available with fire survival properties, including coaxial cable, twisted pair communication cable and fibre optic cable. Fire survival communication cables are aimed at applications such as more sophisticated alarm systems, emergency telephone lines, cctv systems and public address systems that have to continue to operate during a fire.
niche for fire survival lan cables
much of the debate over the fire performance of lan cables in recent years relates not directly to their fire survival characteristics but to concerns over (a) cables being a potential means by which a fire within a building could spread, and (b) the potentially harmful emissions given off by some cables when they are exposed to fire. These issues are very important, but are separate from the fire survival performance of lan cable, which is not generally a major concern. It seems unlikely that a very large market for lan cables with enhanced fire survival properties will emerge. In normal office buildings the lan network is very important, but, unlike alarm and other emergency systems, it does not have to continue to carry out essential functions during a fire. However, there are niches where fire survival lan cables could be used. For example, within data centres, in the event of a major fire, some critical cables would need to operate for long enough to allow the transfer of data to a back-up location.

We are offering fire survival cable.
Fire survival cables
fire survival and circuit integrity
fire survival cables are cables that are designed to continue to operate for a defined minimum period of time during a fire. They are also known in the north american market as circuit integrity cables, since these are used in circuits that must be able to maintain their integrity during a fire. Many manufacturers refer to these products as “fire resistant” cables. Traditionally, the main application for fire survival cables was in fire alarm systems, as in some countries it is a requirement that such cables must continue to operate for a specified period in the event of a fire. In addition to fire alarm systems, these types of cable may also be used in other safety-critical wiring circuits, such as those powering emergency lighting and sprinkler pumps.
various test standards
in addition to the international standard iec 60331, there are several different national fire survival cable standards. These national standards are generally more rigorous than iec 60331. The fire performance tests check that the cable can survive not only fire, but also mechanical shocks and water spray. Some standards involve testing not a just a length of cable, but apply to the cable plus fixings. For example, the north american standard for circuit integrity cables involves particularly robust tests of the cable and its fixing system, including a blast from a high pressure hose after a fire test in a large furnace.
alternative designs for fire survival cables
the earliest type of fire survival cable was mineral insulated (mi, also sometimes known as mims, mic or micc). An mi cable consists of copper conductors surrounded by mineral powder insulation (usually magnesium oxide) contained within an outer metal sheath, usually a copper tube. Though mi cable is a traditional design of fire survival cable, they found favour only in certain countries, such as the uk and china. Alternative fire survival cable designs that use polymeric insulation and tapes (often mica) are now in wider use than mi cables. In the event of a fire the polymeric insulation forms a protective ash so that the cable can continue to operate.
new applications emerge
traditionally fire survival cables were low voltage energy cables, essentially building wire but with enhanced fire resistance. In more recent years other types of cables have become available with fire survival properties, including coaxial cable, twisted pair communication cable and fibre optic cable. Fire survival communication cables are aimed at applications such as more sophisticated alarm systems, emergency telephone lines, cctv systems and public address systems that have to continue to operate during a fire.
niche for fire survival lan cables
much of the debate over the fire performance of lan cables in recent years relates not directly to their fire survival characteristics but to concerns over (a) cables being a potential means by which a fire within a building could spread, and (b) the potentially harmful emissions given off by some cables when they are exposed to fire. These issues are very important, but are separate from the fire survival performance of lan cable, which is not generally a major concern. It seems unlikely that a very large market for lan cables with enhanced fire survival properties will emerge. In normal office buildings the lan network is very important, but, unlike alarm and other emergency systems, it does not have to continue to carry out essential functions during a fire. However, there are niches where fire survival lan cables could be used. For example, within data centres, in the event of a major fire, some critical cables would need to operate for long enough to allow the transfer of data to a back-up location.