SUPPLEMENT FEATURE CABLING & CABLE MANAGEMENT RAISING STANDARDS, PROTECTING LIVES
designs, materials and products continually coming on to the market for major projects, and with it an increasing need for the various parties involved to work closely together to make sure they get it right. For some buildings, it is crucial to select the highest quality products to meet the most rigorous third-party tests and real-life fire scenarios. These include environments such as hospitals, schools and care homes, where older people and children are at risk. For instance, specifiers looking at new large public sector projects such as hospitals should refer to BS 8519 for the electrical supply, and the most relevant cabling system. This Code of Practice specifies that the type of system selected during the design phase ‘should be derived from a detailed process of consultation with the relevant authorities’ and that ‘the design should be agreed at an early stage.’ The decision-making process for cable
With the protection of lives and property now a major issue in the UK for the safe development of the next generation of modern buildings, the choice of cabling that powers the safety features has come under increasing scrutiny. Here, Graham Turner of AEI Cables examines the issues
T
he requirement for continuity of power in new complex modern
public buildings in which large numbers of people move about has never been more important in the event of a real fire. Ultimately, this means choosing the most relevant cabling and electrical accessories that will continue to operate under fire conditions. With power for lighting and fire alarms, the fire and rescue services can use the information gathered to evacuate people quickly, confident that they have found all the people in the building. Without power, they are literally scrambling in the dark without good information upon which to make their rescue. The continuity of power will
also ensure that sprinkler or water mist systems can continue to operate where they exist. In commercial buildings, there may also be smoke evacuation fans which help to enable safe evacuation. At the start of a project, the most appropriate cabling should be specified as part of the electrical system rather than at the end of a project. Fire alarms may be digital, with loop systems that will provide information for fire and rescue services across individual areas and floors. At the same time there are new
selection relevant for life safety and firefighting systems is clearly defined here. This covers three categories ranging from 30 minutes to 120 minutes fire survival time. Categories 1 and 2 cover means of escape for 30 minutes and then 60 minutes respectively, and these cables are tested in accordance with the relevant codes. Category 3 for firefighting to 120 minutes refers to power and control cables meeting the 120-minute test according to the relevant
It has become clear that the whole system of
regulation, covering what is written down and the way in
which it is enacted in practice, is not fit for purpose, leaving room for those who want to take shortcuts...
standards. It should be emphasised that only Mineral Insulated Cable (MIC) or an enhanced cable meeting the requirements of BS7846 F120 will
meet this criteria. For clarity, BS 8519 does not take
precedence over BS 5839
for alarm systems and BS 5266 for emergency lighting. The best practice under Business
S6 JUNE 2018 | CABLING & CABLE MANAGEMENT
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